When couples plan to conceive, they often have some varying dreams about their children. There are those who will only like to conceive one child while others will wish to have twins. The reasons for wishing to have twins usually vary from simply wanting to have a large family to ensure that their children have a companion and a close sibling during childhood. Unfortunately, your odds of conceiving twins are slim and naturally conceived twins occur in approximate 1 out of 89 births. Today, interested couples usually go for procedures such as IVF and take fertility medications in order to increase their chances of conceiving twins. However, there are other natural methods which can help you get pregnant with twins.
How are twins conceived?
Statistics indicate that most twins who are born are fraternal. Fraternal twins result when two female eggs are released separately and fertilized. Identical twins, on the other hand, are rare and develop when one fertilized female egg split in early pregnancy. Today, most women who long for twins go for In-Vitro Fertilization where a doctor implant more than one embryo within the uterus. In addition, doctors are administering certain fertility drugs that encourage the ovaries to release more than one egg in a cycle. Although these methods have been shown to be effective in facilitating women to conceive twins, they are expensive and associated with a number of side effects.
How to get pregnant with twins
Certain factors have been shown to increase the chances of getting pregnant with twins. Family history of twins, ethnicity and your age are some of the factors which increase your chance of conceiving twins. Unfortunately, such factors are out of our control. However, there are certain things you can do to increase your chance of getting pregnant with twins naturally.
Such interventions include:
1. Trying to put on some weight
According to research, weight gaining has been associated with changes in serum level of reproductive hormones, post-translational modification and changes in the secretion. Although weight gain is associated with a number of health complications, it can also boost your chance of a twin pregnancy.
2. Eat hyper-ovulation stimulating foods
Extensive studies on women’s reproductive health have shown that there are certain foods that boost the rate of ovulation. This is because such foods supply the body with certain nutrients that increase the secretion of certain hormones which are known to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple ova. Such foods include;
• Wild yams: Wild yams such as cassava contain certain chemicals which stimulate the ovaries to release more than one egg. This eventually increases your chances of getting twin pregnancy.
• Dairy products: Dairy products have been shown to provide the body with certain nutrients which boost the chances of hyper-ovulation of multiple eggs. Statistical data has shown that women who consume a milk-based diet have a higher chance of developing multiple gestations than those women whose diet is based on other types of food.
• Other foods that increase your chance of getting pregnant with twins include foods that supply the body with high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates such as whole wheat, tofu and whole grains.
3. Increase intake of folic acid
Doctors usually administer folic acid to women who have a risk of developing anemia during pregnancy. In addition, the type of vitamin is used to reduce the chances of neural tube defects in unborn child. Research has shown that oral intake and supplemental forms of folic acid increases the chances of twin pregnancy. Some of the folate-rich diet includes green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, kidney beans and lentils.
4. Try getting pregnant in your 30s and 40s
Studies have shown that the chances of multiple gestations occur mostly in women of over 35 years. According to healthcare providers, fertility rate reduces with the age of a woman. In an attempt to restore the cycle rhythm, the body responds my increasing the secretion of the follicular stimulating hormone. This hormone stimulates the ovary to release more female eggs. For this reason, it is important to get pregnant when you are in your late 30s if you desire to have twins since at this time the ovaries produce multiple eggs.
5. Continue breastfeeding
If you have given birth for the very first type and you are looking forward to conceive twins for the second time, you can increase the length of your breastfeeding. Studies have shown that breastfeeding increases the chances of getting twins. This is because during this time the high levels of prolactin in milk stimulate the release of multiple eggs during ovulation. This increases the chances of conceiving twins.
6. Try getting pregnant immediately after you stop taking birth control pills
Research has shown that birth control pills affect the normal production of reproductive hormones immediately after stopping oral contraceptives. This eventually results to an irregular cycle. Due to abnormal rhythm of serum reproduction hormones, the ovaries become hyper stimulated resulting to the release of two or more eggs. This increases the chance of getting pregnant with twins.
