"Studies show that there is a genetic basis for DZ twinning. However, it is only their mother that has any effect on the chances of having DZ twins; there is no known mechanism for a father to cause the release of more than one ovum."
Our first doctor visit was going smoothly: Mandy was healthy, and the physical exam looked good. Then the ultrasound. Within seconds of placing the sensor on Mandy's belly, the doctor casually said "You've got two."
"Two what?" Mandy asked.
The doctor looked up, quizzically, as if she were asking 'what do you think I'm looking for?'
"Two babies. Twins."
Whoa.
"But we don't have twins on either side of our families!" Mandy said.
"Congratulations. You do now."
We would later discover some of the statistics:
Dizygotic (DZ - two zygotes are fertilized. This means the twins are fraternal, not identical) twin pregnancies are slightly more likely when the following factors are present in the woman:
- She is of West African descent (especially "Yoruba people")
- She is between the age of 30 and 40 years
- She is greater than average height and weight
- She has had several previous pregnancies.
Twins account for about 32 per 1,000 births, but that number is on the rise due to fertility treatments (and no, we did have any procedures, even though we are asked that a lot).
We went to lunch after the doctors visit and just stared at each other, laughing occasionally.
Oh well. Who needs plans anyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment