Chattanooga Area Mothers of Multiples Club
Naturally occurring factors that may influence multiple pregnancy include
the following:

  • Heredity - A family history of multiple pregnancies increases the
    chances of having fraternal twins
  • Older Age - Women over 30 have a greater chance of multiple
    conception
  • High Parity - Having one or more previous pregnancies, especially a
    multiple pregnancy, increases the chances of having multiples
  • Race - African-American women are more likely to have twins than
    any other race.  Asian and Native Americans have the lowest
    twinning rates.  Caucasian women, especially those over age 35, have
    the highest rate of higher-order multiple births (triplets or more)

Other Factors that have greatly increased the multiple birth rate in
recent years include reproductive technologies, including fertility drugs
and in vitro.
  • Preterm Labor and Birth:  About half of twins and nearly all higher-
    order multiples are premature (born before 37 weeks).  The higher
    the number of fetuses, the greater the risk for an early birth.  
    Premature babies are born before their bodies and organ systems
    have completely matured.  These babies often weigh less than 5.5
    lbs and they may need help breathing, eating, fighting infection, and
    staying warm.  Babies born before 28 weeks are especially
    vulnerable.  Many of their organs may not be ready for like outside
    the mother's uterus and may be too immature to function well.  Many
    multiple birth babies will need care in a neonatal intensive care unit
    (NICU).
Factors Influencing Multiple Pregnancy
The Concerns of Multiple Pregnancies
  • Higher risk of pregnancy induced hypertension (high blood pressure)
    with multiple pregnancy.

  • Anemia is twice as common in pregnancies w/ multiple babies as in a
    single birth.

  • Elevated risk of Birth Defects

  • The risk of pregnancy loss (miscarriage) is increased in multiple
    pregnancies.

  • Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome:  It occurs in about 15% of
    twins with a shared placenta.

  • Amniotic fluid abnormalities are more common in multiple
    pregnancies, especially for twins that share a placenta (identical
    twins).

  • Increased chance of a Cesarean Delivery due to abnormal fetal
    positions.
Connor, Grayson and Bella's
brother, in NICU at 3 days.  
Connor weighed 3 pounds, 8
ounces at  birth
Grayson, Bella and
Connor's brother, at 5
days w/ Mom.  Grayson
weighed 3 pounds 11 ounces
at birth.
RIGHT: Eden during her car
seat test.  Eden and her
identical twin sister, Adia both
weighed a little over 4 pounds
at birth.
Grayson at 3 weeks
Aidan, who was born at 36 weeks,
weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, but had
underdeveloped lungs. Aidan's
weight dropped to 5 pounds, 13
ounces before he was released
from the hospital.
This page is for expectant M.O.M.s and new M.O.M.s to help them better
understand some of the special problems, issues, and concerns that M.O.M.s
may face.
This is not meant as medical advice and should not be taken as such.  
Please speak to your doctor if you have any questions regarding your
pregnancy.
Bella, a triplet, was born at 31
weeks and weighed 3 pounds, 2
ounces at birth.  This is Bella at
5 days
Eden, at 3
weeks,
in her
father's
hand
"Club Preemie"
"Club Preemie"
Adia,born at 34 weeks, shown here
on Day 5, with a PREEMIE pacifier
ABOVE and BELOW: Eden, born at
34 weeks, has red marks on her
face from the tape that held her
ventilator in place.  This is Eden on
the day she was born.  She weighed
4 pounds, 4 ounces at birth.
Tate (Aidan's twin), born at 36
weeks, weighed 7 pounds at birth.  
He had some trouble expelling fluid
that had built up in his lungs.
Above & Below:  Hayden, shortly
after birth, in the NICU
Above and Below: Cody, born at 34
weeks.  These pictures were
taken 1 hour after birth. Cody
weighed 4 lbs, 6 ounces.
Julia had fluid build up in her lungs
that required NICU treatment.
Above: Leah, a triplet
Above: Leah, a triplet, a few hours
after birth.   
Above:  Leah, a triplet, the first
day we got to hold her.  We didn't
get to hold her until she was 4 days
old b/c she had the breathing
problems at first.  The tube that is
on her face in that picture was
actually her IV giving her nutrients
b/c they hadn't started her on
bottle feeds yet.  
Above: Leah, a triplet, in her
incubator.  Below: Thompson, Leah's
sibling in his corset.
Above: Maya under the UV lights.  
She and Leah both developed
jaundice when they were 3 days old
and both were put under the UV
lights.  They were under the lights
for about 2 days.  
...where the best things in life are multiplied