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Twins/Triplets/NoTwin Heredity on Maternal side

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Expert: Bill Russo - 12/13/2006


Question
My husband and I just found out that we are having twins. There is no family history on my side for twins. My husband's paternal Grandmother and her mother were twins. Are we having twins because of his history or is it just a pure miracle?(We conceived naturally)   
Thank you very much!  

Answer
There is some new research that claims that there is an enzyme present in some men's sperm that causes the developing egg to split and produce identical twins. If you subscribe to that thinking, then identical twins could definitely be the result of genetics on your husbands side. Fraternal twins, however, are the result of two eggs being present and fertilized at the same time; a result of the female's bodily functions. Your question can't be answered until you know if you are having identicals or fraternals.

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Bill Russo

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My wife and I have successfully raised our triplets using volumes of self help and instructional books, but most of our success has come from within. We have been married since 1979. After 10 years of infertility (which was an education in and of itself) we have been students of high risk pregnancy, neonatal intensive care, nursery organizational skills, potty training, discipline, schooling, and most recently, Attention Deficit Disorder. We have lived in a city setting and rural suburb. We have had hired help and have done it alone. What I offer to you is the knowledge we have accumulated over the years.

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I have had questions from dozens of parents of multiples in eleven countries.

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