Looking to have twins.. what is the pro's and cons that goes along with having twins?

Thecross - posted on 08/20/2012

I want to have twins and would like some directions on enhancing the possibility?

Debbie - posted on 12/18/2009

Quoting April :

The only way a male can be a factor in having twins if he is a carrier of the "twins" gene and passes it to his daughter. The woman is the only one that can factor in if she will be having twins. You either pass to eggs at a time or your body make the egg split. It is still unknown why your body does this.

Thanks for saying that.  So many people have misconceptions about this subject... but I get tired of trying to explain it.  SO when people ask if my husband has twins in his family, the answer is yes, but I don't try to explain that it doesn't matter.... I did try to a few times, but people lose interest fast... and then they think I'm a know-it-all... :)

Debbie - posted on 12/18/2009

Pros: One in particular... they have a built-in playmate and don't require as much "mommy" when they get old enough to play.
Cons: None I can think of!! :)

Kathryn - posted on 12/17/2009

Cons: Cost of diapers and formula if you choose not to breastfeed, or dry up in 3 months like I did!
Pros: Everything else! My twins have slept through the night since 3 weeks, and so sleep is rarely an issue in my house. They always have someone to play with. Even sitting them facing each other in bouncy chairs gives you long enough to grab a shower and a bite to eat.
Mine are only 7 months old and I've been talking about having another baby since they were about 4 months... That considered, it can't be that bad!hehe

Ciera - posted on 12/14/2009

the cons are the sleeping in the beginning and of course the expenses. The sleeping thing is with any baby though and the expenses can be lessened by having multiple showers. these are nothing though compared to the pros. Every joy that comes with a baby times 2!!

April - posted on 12/13/2009

I agree it is not a pros vs. cons it more of can you handle stress well and doing everything in twos. My pregnatcy was HARD! I was put on medical bed rest at 22 weeks due to premature labor. i was in the hospital till i delivered. i could not even go to the bathroom. i was SO miserable! You have to remember that when you are carrying multiplies you are a high risk pregnancy. So many thing can go wrong. I am not trying to scare you but ask any mother of multiples.... there are some scary moments out there. The only way a male can be a factor in having twins if he is a carrier of the "twins" gene and passes it to his daughter. The woman is the only one that can factor in if she will be having twins. You either pass to eggs at a time or your body make the egg split. It is still unknown why your body does this.

Ashley - posted on 12/12/2009

i am a 21 year old mother of twins... these two are my first and only children so far. i honestly cant find any cons about having twins. even the "sleeping situation isnt all that bad. if i ever start to feel too overwhelmed i sleep with them (one on my chest, the other in my arm propped up on a pillow) and we can sleep for 5 or 6 hours like that. having them on the same schedule has always worked for me... i actually think it saved my sanity. if one woke up to eat i would wake the other one up to eat also then change their diapers and they would go back to sleep. doing this not only kept them on the same feeding schedule but also on the same sleep schedule!!

my babies are only 3mo and there is already a bond like no other!! they are so cuddly with each other... even when they sleep. in my opinion there is nothing in the world better they having twins... its all "pro's"

i hope this helped!!

Jo - posted on 12/12/2009

My boys are now 15 and identical twins. The first six months of their lives you learn to live day by day but then they get to the stage where they keep each other entertained and I was lucky that my husband was a great support and we used to take shifts so that I was able to get enough sleep as I had a three year old at the time of their birth wh I would need to spend time with as well - boy did I look forward to the afternoon nap time!! lol It really is worth it in the long run even though they tend to pick on one another now they are good kids at heart and will join forces at times to help their Nana and poppy even though they don't at home.

Chris - posted on 12/11/2009

Congratulations!! There are pros and cons with any child aren't there?? I think that you'll be surprised by the twins and how EASY they are, at least mine were. They are 5 now. They comfort each other, keep each other company, help each other sleep...the whole nine yards. There can be a little competition thing, though, and you need to deal with that, even when they're babies. My twins were the easiest of all my kids. Yes, there are twice as many diapers, twice as much feeding, etc...but, really, twice as much fun and joy!!!

Danielle - posted on 12/10/2009

i have 4 kids-4 yearold boy,3 yr old boy and 6 mths old twins (1 of each) I got to say the best thing about having twins is they play wit eachother-i can lay my twins on the floor next 2 eachother and they suck on eachothers fingers and laugh and talk to eachother is a moment i would change for the world no matter how much busier i am! i wud diffently wait til your older child is around 3 and can understand more about whats going on!

Jo - posted on 12/10/2009

I wouldn't change it for anything, which I know is easy to say once they are here but I really love having twins. We have a three year old daughter and 4 month old identical twin girls(well we think they are, haven't had a DNA test done but I figure if me and their Daddy get them confused then there is a good chance they are identical!) We have them on a schedule and have done so since they were born and they started to sleep 12 - 13 hours straight every night about a month ago.

I personally see no cons at all (now that I'm not carrying around 14 pound of baby lol!)

Abigail - posted on 12/08/2009

I am a twin and so are my brothers. pros they look cute together. and love one another. cons telling them apart, and the changes as they get older. when little they will probably be really close as they get older they may grow apart. my twin and I said a bond and are usaully able to sense one anothers feeling this is good and bad. depending on the feeling the other twin is having. twins are a joy non the less

Vanessa - posted on 12/08/2009

i don't think its a pro v con type type thing. If you end up with mulitples, then you do what you have to do. It's just that simple. The real question is do you have the resources you will need to expand your family? You are going to need a good support structure in place in the event of a multiple birth. Your husband has to be the kind that will step up and cheerfully take his share of the child rearing. Friends, mothers, sisters, whoever is willing to help out, take the help. You'll have some sleep deprivation, some stress, and whole days you feel like your on autopilot, but at the end of the day you have beautiful, healthy children. How are there any cons to that?

Franca - posted on 12/08/2009

Quoting Liezl:

Thanx for all the encouraging words of wisdom. What would you ladies say is the best gap to have your second child/children at?

Mine were 2 1/2 years. I planned 2 children 2 years apart, had a miscarriage then conceived twins. I think it was the absolute minumum for me ... and luckily my oldest is super easy, a great sleeper, very independant, etc. ... it depends on your older children as well ...

Jodie - posted on 12/08/2009

to be honest the first few months are very hard. i was gettin 30mins sleep most nights. 3hrs on a good night. however, over 7mths have past and things are so much more easier. they now sleep thru the night and have a routine goin. althou u still get ur stressful days it truely is a blessin. i wouldnt change them for all the money on earth

Liezl - posted on 12/07/2009

Thanx for all the encouraging words of wisdom. What would you ladies say is the best gap to have your second child/children at?

Franca - posted on 12/07/2009

First, your husband side will have nothing to do with you having twins yes or no. It can increase chances for your daughter(s) but now, no. I have fraternal twins, without meds or a family history. Only fraternal twins are genetic and it depends on you releasing multiple eggs (which doesn't include your husband). I don't think there are real con's except that it's a lot of work, and a lot of extra work the first 3 years compared to having a singleton. The only thing is that some women have problems carrying multiple babies, resulting in premature birth, issues, etc. It's not high risk, but higher risk and more things to look out for.



Now that mine are 3 I actually see the benefits more and more. While my friends are now having their 3rd, I am already done having 3 and no more babies, or starting all over! But of course, the first 3 years, it's a lot more work. However, once I had them on a schedule at 4 months, my life changed and became more predictable. Things weren't so hard anymore. And slowly things become more and more manageable over the years ... I still feel special having twins, and especially one of each (the Chinese here love it, it's good luck!). I never wanted 3 kids to begin with but this is the best way to end up with 3 (that's what I say now ... 3 years down the road!).

Alicia - posted on 12/07/2009

Sleep! You lose redonkulous amounts of sleep! lol. But really all in all it's a wonderful experience. I tried to have mine on a schedule, but that didn't work. Babies make their own schedules. When they were hungry it was their time. Really, if one was hungry I would feed the other at the same time, in hopes it would keep them on a similar schedule, but it still really didn't work. Once they were a year, nap times and bedtimes were easy, because they finally slept through the night. So Now they are always in bed at the same time and eat and all that. But the sleep thing...really. Pray you have a husband who wakes up in the middle of the night. Trying to wake mine was like waking the dead!

Shelley - posted on 12/07/2009

I totally agree with the putting them on the same schedule. Feed them both at the same time, change their diapers at the same time, etc. It's much easier. Twins do not run in either of our families. Our girls were a complete and wonderful surprise! They always have someone to play with and they are very close. They argue like any siblings but it doesn't last long. There is something special about twins and multiples that is hard to explain but they are such a blessing!

Stacia - posted on 12/07/2009

I was really scared when I found out I was having twins because I was afraid I didn't have the patience for TWO babies but they are absolutely wonderful and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I have an almost 4 year old boy and fraternal twin boys that just turned one. If you don't want an only child, then take your chances. If you get twins, you will belong to the best mommy group ever. If you do have twins, keep them on a strict/SAME schedule to keep your sanity:) Good luck!

Rachel - posted on 12/06/2009

Hi i have 5 childrern a daughter 12 then 4 boys 8 4 and a half and 10 month old identical twin boys. Um honestly i have yet to find a con to having twins over just having a single baby. Yes it is busy but i prefer to be a busy mum than not. Maybe it is a little harder to get out n about but even then you just do what you feel comfortable coping with i have 3 other children so i have no choice and the twins just adapt to things and are very cruisy babys. It is alot of fun that i can tell you and when they laugh with each other or steal toys off each other thats priceless!! Yes yoy go threw more nappies and wipes etc but i dont think thats such a big deal. I am still breastfeeding my twins and tandem feeding is great 1nc you get the hang of it saves time also. Um i dont know if iv been any help at all but if you do get pregnant with twins enjoy it its a wonderful experience and having twins in my opinion is just amazing!!!

Rachel - posted on 12/06/2009

Hi i have 5 childrern a daughter 12 then 4 boys 8 4 and a half and 10 month old identical twin boys. Um honestly i have yet to find a con to having twins over just having a single baby. Yes it is busy but i prefer to be a busy mum than not. Maybe it is a little harder to get out n about but even then you just do what you feel comfortable coping with i have 3 other children so i have no choice and the twins just adapt to things and are very cruisy babys. It is alot of fun that i can tell you and when they laugh with each other or steal toys off each other thats priceless!! Yes yoy go threw more nappies and wipes etc but i dont think thats such a big deal. I am still breastfeeding my twins and tandem feeding is great 1nc you get the hang of it saves time also. Um i dont know if iv been any help at all but if you do get pregnant with twins enjoy it its a wonderful experience and having twins in my opinion is just amazing!!!