Contents:
- Medical Video: Mom Thinks She's Having Twins, But Drs Quickly Learn She's Making History With Rare Delivery
- The physical resemblance of twins depends on the process of conception in the womb
- What factors influence pregnant women for twins?
- How can babies be born twins but not identical and even different skin colors?
- What about Siamese twins?
- Is there a risk for babies if they are pregnant with twins?
Medical Video: Mom Thinks She's Having Twins, But Drs Quickly Learn She's Making History With Rare Delivery
Coming home from an ultrasound examination while carrying shocking news souvenirs that you are pregnant with twins must be happy not playing. However, when your baby is born and grows up it turns out that their faces are not similar at all, there are even different skin colors. In fact, both babies are born twins. How come?
The physical resemblance of twins depends on the process of conception in the womb
There are 2 types of twins, namely dizygotic twins and monozygotic twins.
Dizygotic twins, the most common twins (as much as 80%), occur when at the same monthly cycle fertilization of 2 eggs by 2 different sperm cells occurs. Usually in 1 menstrual cycle only produces 1 egg, but on several occasions it is possible in 1 menstrual cycle to produce 2 eggs each fertilized by sperm.
Whereas monozygotic twins or identical twins (20%) occur when 1 egg (ovum) fertilized by 1 sperm cell into a blastocyst undergoes division after fertilization. Because they are from the same blastocyst, monozygotic twins are genetically identical twins.
What factors influence pregnant women for twins?
There are many factors that influence twin pregnancies, including:
- Black race is the most twin race, then caucasian race and the most rare is Mongolian race.
- Hereditary factors on the part of women play a role in increasing the chances of twins.
- Women aged 30-35 years are more likely than those who are younger or older.
- The incidence of twins increases since the 5th pregnancy
- Use of drugs to increase fertility increases the chance of twins 20-40%
How can babies be born twins but not identical and even different skin colors?
As explained above, non-identical twins are dizygotic twins. There are 2 pairs of eggs and sperm cells that each fertilize so that when they grow and grow they will be 2 different babies. Whereas in monozygotes originating from 1 pair of eggs and sperm cells, cleavage or duplication occurs into 2 pairs into identical twins.
The dizygotic twins open up the possibility that the baby can have a very contrasting skin color if both parents have different races. This is better known as birasial twins (biracial twins). biracial twin are dizygotic twins from parents or couples of different races. According to BBC Health, couples of different races who are twins pregnant, will have a 1: 500 chance of having different race twins.
What about Siamese twins?
Babies born in conjoined twins or siamese twins are monozygotic twins that experience cleavage at more than 2 weeks of age, where if they occur at that age the division becomes imperfect. The blastocyst that divides part of it will continue to develop into conjoined twins.
Is there a risk for babies if they are pregnant with twins?
Having twins is fun, but of course there are also a number of risks that accompany the prospective baby. Among others are:
- Fetal mortality is high in monozygotic twins
- preterm birth (80%)
- differences in fetal growth (20%)
- death of one fetus
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
