Fertility treatments often yield multiple births, and twins and
triplets occur more frequently these days as more and more women seek
such treatments. Whether by taking fertility drugs that stimulate the
ovaries, or by having several embryos implanted at once, a woman can
easily conceive twins or triplets by artificial means.
However, there are many ways to increase your chances of having twins
naturally. Even if you have no family history of twins on your mother's
side, you can make your body an environment that is favorable for
conceiving twins or triplets. Here are some tips.
First, understand the two types of twins that can occur: monozygotic
(identical), and dizygotic (fraternal). Identical twins arise when a
fertilized egg splits into two identical embryos. Fraternal twins arise
from two separate eggs that are fertilized by two different sperm. It is
easier to conceive fraternal twins than identical twins.
To increase your chances of having twins or triplets, you should improve
your chances of having a baby in the first place. Take folic acid every
day, starting several months before you think about conceiving. Put on
more weight, quit alcohol and tobacco, and consume more dairy to help
you concieve.
Eat foods that encourage your ovaries to release more eggs during the
ovulation cycle. For example, yams have compounds that over-stimulate
the ovaries, and many women who eat them frequently have a higher rate
of conceiving fraternal twins and triplets. Foods that encourage
progesterone production, such as walnuts, whole grains, eggs, and
chicken, can also