No Family History of Twins

gmarie0914 · October 2013

This is our first pregnancy & we're expecting twins. This is big news since there is no history of twins on either side. I've received a few not so pleasant looks because people don't know where the twins came from...
It's not always hereditary & it has to start somewhere!? Any thoughts, advice, etc?
It's just upsetting to have some people think I was unfaithful & that's why we're having twins

Something that is suppose to be so happy & exciting, is starting to get hurtful.

Momackf · October 2013

Twins doesn't have to run in your family for you to have them. Twins would have came from the mother side anyway not the fathers side. I wouldn't worry about what anybody else thinks but you and your husband, as long as you to are on the same page forget everyone else. It just means that your love is that strong that you two broke the mold to start the twin line be happy;)

Stowne101 · October 2013

huh? people seriously dont know twins can just happen??

Excitedmum35 · October 2013

Yeah that is weird. Ppl can be stupid!

legallyginger · October 2013

Wow... that's ridiculous. Tell them to head to the library and check out some biology textbooks.

Fraternal twins can *sometimes* have something to do with genetics, but identical twins are completely spontaneous.

wearebirds · October 2013

Wow. People really need to pay attention in school. Twins can just happen by fluke. I know plenty of people with twins that don't have a hereditary link.

Sorry people are idiots.

Herbert5 · October 2013

We are expecting twins as our second and third children too!! We were just as shocked as you sound. No twins in our families either, but like our ultrasound tech said, "Looks like you two are starting a new family trend!" I get the looks, the questions, the oh you had help from IVF but it does just happen. You two are gonna be such good parents someone believed you deserved two at once instead of one!!

Good luck and we are in this together!!

BabiesFTW · October 2013

Wow. I can't believe people think that!

There was no history on my family either until my mom had me and my sister. Then, years later, my cousin had twins. You're right. It's gotta start somewhere!

YankeePeach08 · October 2013

There may be a family history of hyper ovulation but those extra eggs just weren't fertilized.

Fraternal twins are caused by ovulating more than 1 eggs, which has been linked genetically.

You may have been hyper ovulating every cycle, one cycle per year or just this one...you'll never really know.

You very well may have family members who hyper ovulate but on the cycles that they dropped more than 1 egg they were not TTC or for some reason only 1 egg was fertilized and implanted.

My point is that there still may be a family history.

Congrats and welcome to the MoM club!!!

ladyglittersparkles · October 2013

I'm living proof twins can just happen.
No history on either of my parents sides of the fam and me and my sis were oops and oh shit oops!
It's amazing and a tough at times to be a twin! She's my BFF
Everything happens for a reason and maybe no reason at all!

kelley72 · October 2013

Congratulations! and as for the other comment

raised eyebrows

angelsnight · October 2013

Wow, I cannot believe people are so ignorant. I'm sure it would be a waste of time, but maybe try giving them a biology lesson. Identical twins are a fluke of nature, they don't know why they happen, and they are not hereditary.

Since fraternal twins happens from hyperovulation, this can be genetic, and all of the women in your family could have hyperovulation, but in order for twins to happen, both eggs need to be fertilized. If your mom or grandma released more than one egg on multiple occasions, a singleton would still result if only one egg were fertilized. Or, back in the day before multiple, early u/s, it's possible some relatives started off with twins, but lost one before they realized they had twins.

Maybe print that info on a business card, give the insensitive people a blank stare and hand them the card.

skeppler1 · October 2013

They should be happy for you and your DH and double excited to have twins come into the family. They are a blessing....and you both will be amazing parents to them BOTH

ellajune2012 · October 2013

OK so first of all, only fraternal twins are hereditary (someone else explained the hyperovulation thing). Identical twins just happen. That being said I know people will persist in thinking all twins are hereditary and/or if they aren't that you must have been undergoing fertility treatment. Which is sort of ridiculous considering twins have been around long before fertility treatments. And also, none of anyone's business.

Second, if they were hereditary, it only matters on the mother's side (since you are the one ovulating, regardless of your partner). So I don't get why cheating is even a thought? Your partner doesn't matter when it comes to twins. It sounds like some of these people commenting need to learn how babies are made.

htn1763 · October 2013

Are you sure that is what the unpleasant looks mean? Most people these days think if you are having twins you had fertility treatments.

KariB509 · October 2013

Why in the world would you being unfaithful cause you to get pregnant with twins? If anyone thinks that, they're just plain stupid. I guess having sex with another man outside of marriage stimulates the ovary to release more than one egg? So stupid it actually makes me angry.

@angelsnight explained it perfectly. Twins are not generally hereditary unless hyperovulation is. Most of the time, twins just happen. Take me for an example: my sister and I are the only twins in our family. My mom just happened to release two eggs and both eggs just happened to get fertilized. Who knows how many of us released two eggs this time but only one was fertilized. It's amazing how many people thought I had an increased chance of having twins just because I am a twin. Nope, I'm no more likely to have twins than any other woman in the world.

As I said, people are so stupid. I want to smack someone now.

katieg314 · October 2013

I am also having twins. Mine are identical, so family history doesn't even matter, but people still ask me and often don't believe me when I tell them it's not genetic. Also, fraternal twins can are only genetic on the female side- who you had Sex with has no bearing on how many times you ovulate. If anyone even remotely implied that I would very harshly remind them of that fact.

I've realized that people are seriously misinformed about twins. I have people try to convince me that my IDs can still be b/g. Sometimes, I have the energy to argue... Sometimes I don't. Just do as much research as you can so that you are always the informed one. And then throw things at the stupid people.

kstar83 · October 2013

My doctor told me that fraternal twins are about a 1 in 153 chance for my ethnicity (Caucasian). So it isn't that rare. I thought we had no history either, but turns out my grandmother had a vanishing twin as well early on. These were not caught very often in generations prior because they just didn't due early ultrasounds.

You will get more interest as a twins MoM, mostly because people are just curious. You are going to have to get some tough skin or learn how to tell ppl its none of their business politely.

OR fight stupid with stupid and just tell them you and your DH had so much sex that you got knocked up with twins.

gmarie0914 · October 2013

Thank you for all the support! We weren't trying for kids, but are still very excited that we're having them. As far as my mother's family history... I've had a hard time getting information. She is from Mexico, & was adopted. (Also her biological family is deceased.)
Despise the few unsupportive people, (mainly his family), we have lots of love & support.
Thank you guys for being so helpful!!!

SamJustice · October 2013

Twins are don't have to run in the family. Also, if it was, it would only count on the mother's side. Men don't have the genetics to pass it on. Especially since most twins come from the mother's tw eggs. Cheating on your H wont make two eggs fertilize.

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