20 interesting facts about twins

 

1. In 1980, one in every 53 babies born in the United States was a twin. By 2009, that number had risen to one in 30, according to a new brief released by the National Center for Health Statistics. Over the three decades, the twin birth rate (number of twins per 1,000 births) rose 76%.

2. Chances of having a twin pregnancy is increased by maternal age (30+) 

3. Fraternal twining is genetically predisposed and the result of a woman releasing more than one egg at the same time

4. Identical twins are the result of a random split of a single egg and cannot be genetically predisposed

5.  Male twins will not have twins unless their wives have the ability to produce two eggs 

6. Identical twins share the same DNA but do not have the same fingerprints

7. 1 in 250 pregnancies can result in identical twins

8. 22 % percent of twins are left handed  compared to 10% in singeltons

9. Fraternal twin girls have twice the chance of giving birth to twins than singletons

10. Vanishing twin syndrome- 15-20% percent of all twin pregnancies will miscarry one fetus

11. Some estimates suggest 1 in 8 people started life as a twin while 1 in 70 actually are a twin

12. Once you have fraternal twins you are 3 to 4 times more likely to have another set!

13.  Nigeria has the highest rate of multiple births and more identical twins

14. China has the lowest rate for multiple births averaging 1 in 300

15. A study shows vegans are five times less likely to have twins than women who consume diary

16. Polar bears most commonly give birth to twins and on rare occasions triplets

17. Examining 3D ultrasound images, a study in Padova, Italy found fetuses start deliberately interacting at 14 weeks

18. 40 % of twins invent their own language

19. Over 50 % of twins are born before 37 weeks

20. The average birthweight for a twin is 5lb 5 oz