Conceiving twins naturally--any tricks or old wives' tales?

[Anonymous]

Just curious. I am interested in having 2 more children but would love to have only 1 more pregnancy. I am fortunate to not have had fertility issues in the past (I know that this could change) but was wondering if anyone has any tricks to share. (And I realize too that twins are at least partly genetic)...

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I conceived twins naturally, but I honestly don't think there are any tricks to increase the odds, LOL. I did find out after the pregnancy that I met certain criteria for an ever-so-slightly increased risk of twins: being over 35 and having had at least one previous child. Still really unlikely though!

[Anonymous]

Eat yams!

[Anonymous]

Google says:

Factors that Influence Twins
Twins can occur naturally in any woman at any time. However, there are certain factors that increase your chances of having twins. These factors include:


Family History: Having a maternal history of twins or other multiple births increases your chance of becoming pregnant with twins considerably.

Cultural Background: People of African American descent are more likely to have twins or multiple births. People of Asian or Hispanic descent are less likely to have twins.

Age: Your chances of having twins increases as you grow older. Women produce more ovulation-stimulating hormone as they age, increasing your chance of releasing more than one egg during ovulation. The chance of having twins rises to 4% between the ages of 30 and 34, and to 5% between the ages of 35 and 39.

Previous Twins: If you’ve already had twins, it is more likely that you will have another twin pregnancy.

Previous Pregnancies: Women who have had four or more previous pregnancies are the most likely to have twins.

Fertility Drugs: Taking fertility drugs or undergoing fertility treatments can significantly increase your chances of having twins or another type of multiple birth. In some cases, women can increase their chances of having twins up to 20%.

Weight Gain: A study by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology linked the recent rise in multiple births with the steady rise of obesity in North America. Women with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are more likely to have twins than those in the suggested BMI range of 19 to 25.

Increasing Your Chances of Having Twins
So, are there any proven methods to increase your chances of having twins? Well, there are a number of ways that you can go about trying to have twins, but, as with anything, there are no guarantees. Having twins is mostly down to luck, although there are a few things you can do to help Lady Luck along.

Focus on Nutrition
Women who are well nourished are more likely to have twins or multiple births. So focus on eating well and eating enough to maintain a healthy weight.

Eat Yams
Yams, a type of sweet potato, have also been linked with multiple births. A tribe in Africa whose diet consists mostly of yams was recently found to have exceptionally high rates of twins and multiple births. Yams are thought to contain chemicals that stimulate hyperovulation, increasing your chances of conceiving twins.

Try Fertility Drugs
Though not recommended unless you are suffering from fertility issues, fertility drugs do seem to greatly increase your chances of having twins. The fertility drug clomiphene (Clomid) increases your likelihood to 8%, while menotropins (Pergonal) increases your likelihood to 18%. Fertility drugs do cause side effects though and should never be taken without the supervision of a medical doctor.

Try Fertility Treatments
Fertility treatments are also associated with higher rates of multiple births. In-vitro fertilization involves implanting more than one embryo into your uterus, which means your are more likely to conceive twins or higher-order multiples. Like fertility drugs, fertility treatments should not be undergone without approval from a medical doctor and are usually reserved for couples who are having difficulties conceiving.

[Anonymous]

I think it is funny when people ask what they can do to get pregnant with twins. Honestly the ONLY way to get pregnant with twins is either by a doctor or if the woman has hyperactive ovaries. I myself am pregnant with twins and it does not run in my family what so ever so the twins are completely unexpected. So there is nothing you can do to conceive twins but having more than one egg drop or if you are getting help from the doctor getting pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Google says:

Factors that Influence Twins
Twins can occur naturally in any woman at any time. However, there are certain factors that increase your chances of having twins. These factors include:


Family History: Having a maternal history of twins or other multiple births increases your chance of becoming pregnant with twins considerably.

Cultural Background: People of African American descent are more likely to have twins or multiple births. People of Asian or Hispanic descent are less likely to have twins.

Age: Your chances of having twins increases as you grow older. Women produce more ovulation-stimulating hormone as they age, increasing your chance of releasing more than one egg during ovulation. The chance of having twins rises to 4% between the ages of 30 and 34, and to 5% between the ages of 35 and 39.

Previous Twins: If you’ve already had twins, it is more likely that you will have another twin pregnancy.

Previous Pregnancies: Women who have had four or more previous pregnancies are the most likely to have twins.

Fertility Drugs: Taking fertility drugs or undergoing fertility treatments can significantly increase your chances of having twins or another type of multiple birth. In some cases, women can increase their chances of having twins up to 20%.

Weight Gain: A study by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology linked the recent rise in multiple births with the steady rise of obesity in North America. Women with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 are more likely to have twins than those in the suggested BMI range of 19 to 25.

Increasing Your Chances of Having Twins
So, are there any proven methods to increase your chances of having twins? Well, there are a number of ways that you can go about trying to have twins, but, as with anything, there are no guarantees. Having twins is mostly down to luck, although there are a few things you can do to help Lady Luck along.

Focus on Nutrition
Women who are well nourished are more likely to have twins or multiple births. So focus on eating well and eating enough to maintain a healthy weight.

Eat Yams
Yams, a type of sweet potato, have also been linked with multiple births. A tribe in Africa whose diet consists mostly of yams was recently found to have exceptionally high rates of twins and multiple births. Yams are thought to contain chemicals that stimulate hyperovulation, increasing your chances of conceiving twins.

Try Fertility Drugs
Though not recommended unless you are suffering from fertility issues, fertility drugs do seem to greatly increase your chances of having twins. The fertility drug clomiphene (Clomid) increases your likelihood to 8%, while menotropins (Pergonal) increases your likelihood to 18%. Fertility drugs do cause side effects though and should never be taken without the supervision of a medical doctor.

Try Fertility Treatments
Fertility treatments are also associated with higher rates of multiple births. In-vitro fertilization involves implanting more than one embryo into your uterus, which means your are more likely to conceive twins or higher-order multiples. Like fertility drugs, fertility treatments should not be undergone without approval from a medical doctor and are usually reserved for couples who are having difficulties conceiving.

New poster here. I would LOVE to get pregnant with twins. Thanks to fertility treatments, I was pregnant with twins briefly once, but lost one of them. Maybe I'll start eating some yams!

[Anonymous]

To PP 19:13, I'd also like to add that you can pregnant with ID twins via fluke which is technically a third way.

IVF twin mom here!

[Anonymous]

I have 2 kids - one IUI and one IVF- many m/c- there are risks on carrying twins- I used to think I'd want to get two kids and my IF hisotry woulkd be done with- singletons are less risky- I guess talk to your OB/RE abour risks- there are reasons why REs won't put in 3 embryos (increase successful birth rates).. I was on the other side of twins and know many twins - but given ym history- I just know a singleton was the best odds of having a healthy baby in my family..