The first documented case of twin birth is thought to be from Ancient Egypt in 2700 BC, although it is impossible to tell for certain as records from that time are incomplete. Twins have occurred naturally since the beginning of time, and they are reported in every culture and society across the world.
In the 11th century, Egyptian scientists observed that almost 1/3 of all births were of twins, and many believed that twins were a sign of good fortune. By the 19th century, an amazing 15-20% of all births were of twins, although the rate has decreased since then due to increased access to healthcare, nutrition, and birth control.
Today, the twin birth rate is estimated to be around 3. 5% in the United States, and it varies across the world.
Why is one twin older than the other?
In some cases, one twin may be older than the other due to the timing of their birth. If one twin is born before the completion of the first twin’s birth, then the first twin born would be the older of the two.
This occurs when the twins are born “preterm” or prematurely. In addition, due to the position of the babies in the womb, one twin may receive more nutrients than the other, which can cause one to grow faster and be born first and thus, be the older one.
This is called an “unfavorable cephalic presentation,” and is common in pregnant women who have fraternal twins that are within the same sac. Further, in some cases, if one twin is born after their due date and the other is born before their due date, then the baby born before their due date will be the older twin.
Is the heavier twin born first?
The answer to the question of whether the heavier twin is born first is not always the same for every set of twins. Generally, however, the heavier twin is born first and this is due to the way that babies present themselves in the womb.
The larger baby will generally press down onto the cervix earlier, triggering labor to start. This can happen due to the amount of space available for the baby to move around and because larger babies tend to be more active than smaller babies.
In addition, the larger baby may be able to use its head to create more pressure against the cervix. However, this is not always the case; the heavier twin can be born after the lighter twin in some instances.
For example, the smaller twin may be positioned lower in the uterus and present itself first, while the larger twin may be better positioned to stay in the womb longer. Generally speaking, however, the heavier twin is usually born first.
How long after the first twin is the second born?
The length of time between the birth of the first and second twin can vary greatly, as every labor and delivery is different. With regard to timing between twins, medics usually split them into two categories; monozygotic (identical) twins and dizygotic (fraternal) twins.
With identical twins, there is no significant difference in the length of time between the first and second twin’s births. This is because they usually share the same placenta and membrane sac, so they typically deliver together.
In the majority of cases, both babies are born within two minutes of each other.
Fraternal twins, on the other hand, tend to have different amniotic sacs and placentas so in many cases the baby who is positioned better in the birth canal is delivered first. In this scenario, the difference in time can sometimes range from minutes to hours, depending on the length of the labor.
Generally, the second twin born is often smaller than the first, as their growth is likely to be slightly delayed due to their position in the uterus.
Overall, the length of time between the first and second twin’s births depends greatly on the type of twins and the length of the labor.
Who is the dominant twin?
The dominant twin is the twin who takes control of the social interactions between the two. The dominant twin is typically more talkative, leader-like, and assertive than their counterpart. Dominant twins typically spend more time talking, playing, or giving directions to their twin.
Other traits may include being the first to walk or talk, the one most readily accepted at school, or being the one who seeks companionship or social interaction first. Ultimately, the dominant twin can vary from pair to pair, depending on the personalities of the individuals and how their relationship has developed over time.
What determines which twin is born first?
The position in the womb ultimately determines which twin will be born first. In a normal twin pregnancy, the first twin is usually delivered about three or four minutes prior to the second twin. This is usually due to the fact that the first twin is typically located lower in the womb than the second twin.
In some cases, however, the second twin may be born first due to a variety of conditions. For example, if the first twin is in a breech position, or the placenta is blocking the delivery of the first twin, the second twin may be born first.
Additionally, if the first twin gets stuck during delivery, the second twin may be born first. In general, the determination of which twin will be born first boils down to positioning in the few minutes prior to delivery.
Which twin is usually taller?
The answer as to which twin is usually taller depends on the nature of the twins. Fraternal twins, or twins that developed from two separate eggs that were both fertilized, can vary in height, because fraternal twins are just like any siblings.
However, identical twins, or twins that developed from one egg that was fertilized, are usually the same or very close in height. Identical twins develop from the same genetic materials, so any differences that may exist in their height would be due to environmental factors such as nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle choices.
In general, research has found that most twins are about the same height, regardless of whether or not they are fraternal or identical twins.
What weight are most twins born?
Most twins are born at a normal birth weight range, typically between 5. 5 and 8. 8 pounds. However, it’s important to note that every pair of twins is unique and there can be some variation in birth weight among siblings.
In general, twins that are born prematurely tend to weigh less than those born at full-term. Multiple births may also be affected by the mother’s health during pregnancy, the sex of the babies, and the position of the babies in the uterus.
Twin births that occur after the 37-week pregnancy tend to weigh the most, while those born before the 37th week are usually smaller. It is also possible for one twin to be significantly larger than the other.
Are second babies usually heavier?
Generally, second babies tend to be a little heavier than their first-born siblings. This is due to the fact that the mother’s uterus grows bigger with each additional pregnancy, giving more space for the baby to develop and putting the baby in a better position to gain weight.
Studies have shown that the average weight of a second baby is around 7. 5 pounds, while the average weight of a first-born baby is typically between 6-8 pounds. Additionally, mothers often carry the second baby full-term and can produce more of the essential hormones required for fetal development and a healthy baby.
The difference in weight between first-born and second-born babies does not usually exceed one pound, so it is not always significant. Still, this increased weight is important for the development of second babies, and the extra space provided by the mother’s uterus gives the baby the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and birth.
How far apart are twins usually born?
The timing between when twins are born can vary quite significantly, ranging from a few minutes to several hours. It is generally accepted that within 24 hours of birth is considered to be within the normal range for twins.
In addition to the timing of birth, the length of time between twins’ birth also varies. Generally, identical twins (or monozygotic twins) are born within minutes of each other and can be born at the same time, while fraternal twins (or dizygotic twins) can be born several minutes, or even hours, apart.
While it is not always the case, it is more common for a first born twin to emerge a few minutes before the second twin.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises that if the interval between two twins is less than 10 minutes, then both babies should be examined for head-to-head position, cord entanglement and/or limb entanglement as these conditions may make delivery difficult.
On the other hand, if the interval between twins is greater than 10 minutes, then the clinician should evaluate for fetal distress in the second twin. It is important to note that in rare cases, babies can be born so far apart that they can be considered as separate pregnancies, and often require different levels of care.
What is the longest time between two twins being born?
The longest time between two twins being born is 87 days. This is a very rare medical occurrence known as ‘super-twinning’. It was documented in a case study published in the medical journal BMJ Open in 2020.
The study looked at the cases of five sets of twins who were born after longer than normal gestation periods (7 months). In one set of twins, the first was born at 36 weeks, and the second was born 87 days later.
It is thought that the first twin was a ‘lazy’ one, who entered the womb late: the two siblings must have been conceived more than three months apart.
The long interval between the two pregnancies occurred because the mother’s uterus was split in two after the first twin was born, which allowed enough time around the halfway mark of her pregnancy for the other twin to begin its development.
In most cases of super-twinning, the second sibling arrives within a matter of weeks, but this particular case had the longest interval observed to date.
The study showed that super-twinning can occur without complications, as both sets of twins in the study were healthy at birth. While this phenomenon is rare, it is an intriguing example of the incredible adaptability of the human body.
Do second babies come earlier than first?
Generally, second babies tend to come earlier than first babies. In a study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, second births occurred approximately two to three weeks earlier than the due dates of first births.
This difference became smaller, however, as the number of pregnancies increased. On average, women who had four or more pregnancies delivered the second baby at nearly the same time as their first. Additionally, the length of labor for the second baby tended to be shorter, with the difference ranging from 25%-45%.
The reason behind the earlier arrival of second babies is unclear, but several proposed explanations exist. One idea is that the more relaxed attitude of women pregnant with their second child may contribute to earlier labor.
Additionally, some suggest that the cervix may open earlier in subsequent pregnancies due to prior stretching or hormonal changes. Also, the positioning of the baby may cause a difference in the length of labor.
Whatever the underlying cause may be, it is important to note that the timing of delivery is highly variable, and the due date should not be taken as a guarantee.
Which twin lives longest?
The twin that lives longest can depend on many different factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment. On average, identical twins will both have the same longevity, but differences can arise.
Older twins tend to outlive the younger twins due to their body being better suited to resist diseases. Other factors such as lifestyle, environment, and genetic disposition can influence which twin will live the longest.
For example, a twin that has a better diet, exercises regularly, leads a stress-free life, and has better genetics may outlive the other twin. The best way to determine which twin will live the longest is to closely monitor both of their health and lifestyle habits so that any imbalances can be identified.
Is it easier to give birth to the second twin?
Whether or not it is easier to give birth to the second twin largely depends on the circumstances of the labor and delivery. The second twin may arrive sooner than the first, especially if the first twin is poorly positioned in the uterus or positioned in such a way that the second twin easily exits first.
This can be beneficial, as the second twin can take advantage of the already progressing labor and delivery. On the other hand, if the labor and delivery of the first twin is particularly difficult or long, this could make the second twin’s delivery more challenging.
Other factors to consider include the type of delivery (vaginal or c-section) and whether or not labor has been induced. An induced labor may progress more quickly and make the labor and delivery of the second twin easier.
In the case of a c-section, the second twin should usually arrive within minutes.
Overall, there is no definitive answer to whether or not it is easier to give birth to the second twin. It will ultimately depend on the timing and progress of the first twin’s labor and delivery as well as any medical interventions that are necessary.
