How Many Babies Can a Human Have at Once

12 Things You lot Didn't Know About Multiple Births

Whether you're expecting more than than one baby or you lot're simply curious about multiple births, a few of these facts and statistics might totally surprise you.

Did yous know that multiple births are happening more oft now than in the past? It's probably considering two factors that increase the odds of having multiples—fertility treatments and getting pregnant after 30 years erstwhile—are becoming more widespread. So how common are multiple births, and what you can expect throughout the ix-month gestation? Proceed reading to learn more about having twins, triplets, and larger numbers of multiples.

1. Twins are the most mutual type of multiple pregnancy.

Co-ordinate to the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC), twins occur in 32.1 per 1,000 live births. Women give birth to triplets or higher multiples in 87.7 out of every 100,000 alive births. And while more multiples are born now than in by decades, the number is slowly starting to decline—possibly considering it's becoming less common to become fertility treatments involving the transfer of multiple embryos, co-ordinate to The New York Times.

RELATED: 6 Signs You Might Be Pregnant With Twins

2. Identical twins share even so genetic cloth, but fraternal twins don't.

Fraternal (dizygotic) twins happen when two separate eggs are fertilized by ii dissever sperm, and they implant in the womb at the aforementioned time. They share the same corporeality of genetic fabric as other siblings.

On the other hand, identical (monozygotic) twins develop from a unmarried fertilized egg, which is more rare. They might share a placenta or amniotic sac, and they have the same DNA. That said, because of environmental factors like their position in the womb, identical twins won't look 100 per centum akin, co-ordinate to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

three. There are medical terms for multiple births.

Nearly people know that "twins" means two babies and "triplets" ways iii babies. Only what if you're expecting more that? Here'southward the proper terminology:

Quadruplets is for four babies
Quintuplets is for five babies
Sextuplets is for half dozen babies
Septuplets is for vii babies
Octuplets is for eight babies
Nonuplets is for nine babies

4. Multiple births take a variety of causes.

Factors that increment the likelihood of pregnancy with multiples include maternal age greater than 30 (hormonal changes might crusade the release of more than one egg at ovulation), a history of multiples in your family, and a previous pregnancy with multiples. Fertility drugs and assisted reproductive technologies, such every bit in vitro fertilization, also heighten the odds considering they often produce more than than one egg.

RELATED: The Glamorization of Twin Pregnancies Is Existent—But at What Cost?

v. Most multiple births occur in the Northeast.

Studies say that the highest incidence of twins happens in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. This might be because women in these locations tend to accept babies after in life, and they're more likely to apply fertility treatments. In dissimilarity, New Mexico has the lowest twin nativity rate.

Triplets Newborn Wool Socks Pinkish Yellow Blue

Credit: FINDELMUNDO/Shutterstock

vi. The largest multiple birth happened in 2021.

7. Multiple pregnancies are often considered "high gamble."

Multiple pregnancies come with an increased gamble of preterm labor, uneven growth, high blood pressure level, preeclampsia (a condition characterized past high blood pressure and protein in the urine), diabetes, and other "high-risk" pregnancy conditions. But don't worry: Your doctor will advisedly monitor your pregnancy, and they'll often recommend regular ultrasounds and cheque-upwardly appointments.

RELATED: 8 Health Surprises to Look When You lot're Pregnant With Multiples

8. Multiples are usually delivered 37 weeks or earlier.

Why? If a women is meaning with multiples, an earlier due date decreases the risk of stillbirth or other complications. And yous don't need to worry about a drawn-out delivery: the average fourth dimension between twins is 17 minutes.

ix. You're more probable to accept a C-section with multiples.

Most multiple pregnancies end in C-section—particularly if you're having triplets or more. That said, you could be a candidate for vaginal delivery if you're having twins, and they're both positioned with their head down. Your doctor might besides consider natural birth if Babe A (the ane closest to your cervix) is caput down, and Babe B is breech, as long as they're nearly the aforementioned size. And sometimes one twin is born vaginally and the other is born via C-section; this is most common if Baby B shows signs of distress.

ten. Multiples socialize with each other in the womb.

Here'due south an endearing fact almost multiple births: A 2010 study published in PLOS i detailed enquiry involving five pairs of twins. After studying them with ultrasound technology, experts determined that the twins were physically contacting each other. "Nosotros conclude that functioning of movements towards the co-twin is not accidental: already starting from the 14th week of gestation twin foetuses execute movements specifically aimed at the co-twin," the study says.

11. Mothers of twins are more probable to be tall and swallow dairy.

Take a 2006 written report, which was published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine and conducted past Gary Steinman, M.D., PhD, an attention doctor at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center. The report involved 129 women who had twins or triplets, and it found that the boilerplate female parent of multiples was 5'v". In contrast, the national average height for women is 5'iii.75".

A separate 2006 study by Dr. Steinman, also published in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine, concluded that women who consume animal products (specifically dairy) were five times more likely to accept a multiple nascency compared with vegans.

12. Multiples tin get captivated in the womb.

This might seem gruesome, but "Vanishing Twin Syndrome" actually occurs in up to 30 percent of multifetal pregnancies. It happens when one baby stops developing, and it's normally absorbed back into the uterus. Most cases occur before the dr. even hears a fetal heartbeat.

RELATED: If You've Suffered From Vanishing Twin Syndrome, Yous're Not Alone

How Many Babies Can a Human Have at Once

Source: https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-baby/twins-multiples/multiple-births-facts-you-didnt-know/