If you’re expecting twins, or if you’re already a parent of twins, the happiness is double that of others. It is also likely to be much more demanding, though, and would take more effort on your part to raise two children of the same age concurrently. Twins were also a source of interest not only for their family but also for the wider world as well as for the scientific community. Countless experiments have been carried out to examine their behavior and lifestyles. Continue reading for some fascinating and interesting facts about twins.
Image Source – Pixabay
Interesting Facts About Twins
One thing about twins you’re sure to hear about is that they can be either fraternal or identical. While identical twins have the same DNA, fraternal ones do not have the same DNA. This does not necessarily mean that, although they do in most situations, identical twins should look alike. Here are some more interesting facts about twins you may not have known about:
1. Twin Gene isn’t a myth
You might have heard of a few families with a lot of twins over the generations. It is assumed that the explanation for this is something known as hyper-ovulation. During hyper-ovulation, a female releases more than one egg a month. It is believed that the gene that causes this type of hyper-ovulation is inherited, and therefore the offspring of the twins are more likely to have twins as well. This form of twins is fraternal as they are born out of two different eggs. Identical twins are born out of a single egg splitting in half and this is not a genetic occurrence.
2. Enhanced life span for Twins and their mothers
The lifespan of twins was longer than others. Apparently, their survival is enhanced by the support that twins give to each other in all ways. Another study by the University of Utah showed that women who gave birth to twins enjoyed more than other mothers for a few years. Earlier research on women living between 1807 and 1899 also showed that mothers who give birth to twins are stronger and healthier and are likely to live longer than singleton mothers. It also revealed that twin mothers also had a higher fertility rate.
3. Twin Bonding takes place in the womb
Within the womb, twins meet each other as early as 14 weeks of gestation and contact each other more than their bodies by 18 weeks. They actually spent an estimated 30% of their time feeling and stroking their twin. And they also are known to be gentle when touching their sibling’s eye area which is sensitive and needs to be handled with care.
4. Twins may have different skin colors
It has been seen that interracial couples have twins with different colored skin. But this pattern is not only seen in interracial couples. Twin kids with different skin tones have also been found to have pairs of the same color that have mixed ethnicity parents Such events are not very common, known as mixed twins.
5. One twin can eat the other
This is called the’ Vanishing Twin Syndrome‘ where one of the babies during pregnancy does not survive. The embryo is absorbed by either your body or the body of the other baby and during the rest of the pregnancy does not cause any complications. This happens quite often because statistically, 1 out of 8 pregnancies begins as a twin pregnancy, while only 1 out of 70 results in twin birth.
6. There are more than two Twin Types
In addition to identical or fraternal twins, there is a third category known as mirror image twins. In about a fourth of identical twins, this can be seen. This happens when the twins develop in the womb as they face each other directly, making them each other’s reflections. In such cases, one twin may be right-handed while the other is left-handed, or there may be birthmarks on opposite sides of the body. Mirror twins are usually formed by splitting a single fertilized egg over a week after conception.
7. Twins have their own language
If you see twin babies appear to be talking to each other, and you’re mistaken for the common babbling between infants, you can’t be further from the facts! Twins speak in a dialect known as cryptophasia, which only they can understand. Inverted words and onomatopoeic expressions (sounds like’ boo,” choo’ etc.) make up this language. Nearly 40% of twins are known to have a private language, but it appears to vanish as they grow older and learn other languages.
8. They can have different fathers
Yeah, you’re reading that right One of the stranger things about twins, this can occur when a female releases two eggs in a month instead of one. When the two eggs are fertilized by different men’s sperms, then twins of different fathers can be born by the female. But that’s a rare phenomenon.
These are some of the amazing and interesting facts about twins.
You can feel like you’re on a roller coaster every day by raising twins or multiple kids. But, besides being an experience that not everyone can experience, it’s a fun ride with all the excitement.
Also Read: Twin Baby Care
Disclaimer: This knowledge is merely a reference and not a substitute for a qualified professional’s medical advice.
