":"twins and multiples","field_file_image_title_text":"twins and multiples"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"media_original","field_file_image_alt_text":"twins and multiples","field_file_image_title_text":"twins and multiples"}},"attributes":{"alt":"twins and multiples","title":"twins and multiples","class":"media-element file-media-original","data-delta":"1"}}]]The process of conception does not always stop at one baby. A pregnancy of more than one fetus at the same time is called a multiple pregnancy. While the majority of multiple pregnancies refer to twin/triplets, with the increase in the use of fertility drugs, the incidence of multiples has recently been growing in numbers.
There are various situations that may lead to the conception or growth of a multiple pregnancy. For the sake of discussion, the twin/triplet pregnancy is easiest to understand.
Dizygotic twins/trizygotic triplets (fraternal or non-identical) are created when a female releases more than one egg or ovulates two or three times and all eggs are fertilized. Monozygotic (maternal/identical) twins or triplets are created if one egg is released, only one sperm fertilizes the egg, and the egg splits into multiple embryos. 
Twins
<ul>
<li><a title="monozygotic, dizygotic, monochorionic, dichorionic" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins-monozygotic-dizygotic-monochorionic-dichorionic">Monozygotic vs. Dizygotic and Monochorionic vs. Dichorionic</a></li>
<li><a title="types of twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/monozygotic-monoamniotic-monochorionic-mono-mono-dizygotic-dichorionic-twins">Types of Twins: Monozygotic, Dizygotic, Monochorionic, Dichorionic, Monoamniotic, </a><a title="types of twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/monozygotic-monoamniotic-monochorionic-mono-mono-dizygotic-dichorionic-twins">Diamniotic </a></li>
<li><a title="multiples pregnancy" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/multiple-pregnancy-twins-triplets">Multiples Pregnancy: Twins and Triplets</a></li>
<li><a title="what are the odds of having twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/what-are-odds-having-twins">What are the Odds of Having Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="multiple births: risks to the child" href="http://www.babymed.com/multiple-births-risks-to-the-child">Multiple Births: Risks to the Child</a></li>
<li><a title="risks of multiple=" href="http://www.babymed.com/risks-of-multiple-births">Risks of Multiple Births</a></li>
<li><a title="how to name twins and multiples" href="http://www.babymed.com/baby-names/baby-names-how-to-name-twins-and-multiples">How to Name Twins and Multiples</a></li>
<li><a title="popular twin names of 2010" href="http://www.babymed.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names-twins-born-2010">Popular Twin Names of 2010</a></li>
<li><a title="extra special care for twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/extra-special-care-twins">Extra Special Hospital Care for Twins</a></li>
<li><a title="all about twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/all-about-twins">All About Twins</a></li>
<li><a title="examples of a twin pregnancy diet" href="http://www.babymed.com/fetus/examples-twin-pregnancy-diet">Examples of a Twin Pregnancy Diet</a></li>
<li><a title="what is it like to be pregnant with twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/what-is-it-like-to-be-pregnant-with-twins">What Is It Like To Be Pregnant With Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="hCG levels in twin pregnancy" href="http://www.babymed.com/pregnancy-tests/hcg-increasing-fast">hCG Levels in Twin Pregnancy</a></li>
<li><a title="superfetation and superfecundation" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/superfetation-and-superfecundation-twins-conceived-weeks-apart-one-or-two-fathers">Superfetation and Superfecundation - Twins Conceived Weeks Apart by One or Two Fathers&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a title="twins with two fathers" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/twins-two-fathers-superfecundation-and-superfetation">Twins with Two Fathers: Superfetation and Superfecundation</a></li>
<li><a href="/quizzes/twins" target="_self">Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Twins</a></li>
<li><a title="what are conjoined twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/conjoined-twins-what-are-they">Conjoined Twins - What are They?</a></li>
<li><a title="facts about gemellology" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/gemellology-facts-about-multiples-twins-triplets-and-more">Facts About Gemellology: Twins, Triplets, and Multiples</a></li>
<li><a title="what are the odds of twins having twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/info/twins-what-are-odds-having-twins">What are the Odds of Twins Having Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="what are the odds of having twins on clomid?" href="http://www.babymed.com/medications/clomiphene-and-twins">Clomiphene and Twins - What are the Odds?</a></li>
</ul>
Blogs 
<ul>
<li><a title="which women are more likely to have twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/which-women-are-most-likely-have-twins">Which Women are More Likely to Have Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="do twice the babies mean twice the labor?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/do-twice-babies-mean-twice-labor">Do Twice the Babies Mean Twice the Labor?</a></li>
<li><a title="is tandem breastfeeding truly an option?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/tandem-breastfeeding-truly-option">Is tandem breastfeeding truly an option?</a></li>
<li><a title="twin-twin transfusion syndrome" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/twin-twin-transfusion-syndrome">Twin-twin transfusion syndrome</a></li>
<li><a title="how common are conjoined twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/how-common-are-conjoined-twins">How common are conjoined twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="should your twins co-sleep?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/should-your-twins-co-sleep">Should your twins co-sleep?</a></li>
<li><a title="is having twins genetic?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/are-having-twins-genetic">Is having twins genetic?</a></li>
<li><a title="are twins genetic?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/are-twins-genetic">Are twins genetic?</a></li>
<li><a title="do twins act the same in utero?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/do-twins-act-same-utero">Do Twins act the Same in utero?</a></li>
<li><a title="are your twins fraternal or identical?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/are-your-twins-fraternal-or-identical">Are your Twins Fraternal or Identical?</a></li>
<li><a title="twins and GDM" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/jaclyn-stewart/having-twins-beware-gdm">Having Twins? Beware of GDM</a></li>
<li><a title="do you really need maternity clothes when you're pregnant with twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/do-you-really-need-maternity-clothes-when-you%E2%80%99re-pregnant-twins">Do you Really Need Maternity Clothes when you're Pregnant with Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="what is the worst part of being pregnant with twins?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/what-worst-part-being-pregnant-twins">What Is the Worst Part of Being Pregnant with Twins?</a></li>
<li><a title="can you feel twins kick separately?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/can-you-feel-twins-kick-separately">Can you Feel Twins Kick Separately?</a></li>
<li><a title="7 things I learned raising preemie twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-they-can-catch-their-peers">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: They Can Catch up with Their Peers</a></li>
<li><a title="kangaroo care and premature twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-kangaroo-care">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: Kangaroo Care</a></li>
<li><a title="premature twins grow fast" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-they-grow-fast">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: They Grow Fast</a></li>
<li><a title="7 things I learned raising preemie twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-they-will-sleep-through-night">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: They Will Sleep Through the Night</a></li>
<li><a title="7 things I learned raising preemie twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-they-can-survive-little-bit-formula">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: They Can Survive on that Little Bit of Formula</a></li>
<li><a title="7 things I learned raising preemie twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-starting-small-does-not-mean-ending-small">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: Starting Small Does Not Mean Ending Small</a></li>
<li><a title="7 things I learned raising preemie twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/7-things-i-learned-raising-preemie-they-do-require-some-special-care">7 Things I Learned Raising Preemie Twins: They do Require Some Special Care</a></li>
<li><a title="does bed rest work as a medical intervention?" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/dramos/does-bed-rest-work-medical-intervention-during-pregnancy">Dr. Amos: Does Bed Rest Work as a Medical Intervention?</a></li>
<li><a title="twins moms live longer than singlet moms" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/twin-moms-live-longer-singlet-moms">Twin Moms Live Longer Than Singlet Moms</a></li>
<li><a title="the other side of a twin pregnancy" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/not-all-pregnancies-are-created-equal">Not all Pregnancies are Created Equal: The Other Side of a Twin Pregnancy</a></li>
<li><a title="twin births increasing dramatically" href="http://www.babymed.com/blogs/summer-banks/twin-births-increasing-dramatically-and-here-i-thought-i-was-unique">Twin Births are Increasing Dramatically and I Thought I Was Unique</a></li>
</ul>
News and Studies
<ul>
<li><a title="Gestational Diabetes Screening in Singletons and Twins" href="http://www.babymed.com/pregnancy-news/gestational-diabetes-screening-singletons-and-twins">Gestational Diabetes Screening in Singletons and Twins</a></li>
<li><a title="two embryos more viable than one for first time mothers" href="http://www.babymed.com/fertility-news/two-embryos-more-viable-one-first-time-mothers">Two Embryos More Viable Than One for First-time Mothers</a></li>
<li><a title="eliminating twin pregnancies" href="http://www.babymed.com/fertility-news/eliminating-multiple-pregnancies-appropriate-target-government-intervention">Eliminating Multiple Pregnancies: An Appropriate Target for Government Intervention?</a></li>
<li><a title="height may determine twin birth after IVF" href="http://www.babymed.com/pregnancy-news/height-may-determine-twin-birth-after-ivf-treatment">Height May Determine Twin Birth After IVF</a></li>
<li><a title="progesterone does not prevent preterm birth in twin pregnancy" href="http://www.babymed.com/complications/progesterone-does-not-prevent-preterm-births-women-twin-pregnancy">Progesterone Does Not Prevent Preterm Birth in Women with Twin Pregnancy</a></li>
<li><a title="risks of twins/triplets after ovulation induction" href="http://www.babymed.com/twins/risk-twinstriplets-after-ovulation-induction">Risk of Twins/Triplets After Ovulation Induction</a></li>
</ul>

Twins are two separate individuals in the same pregnancy

Multiples

While the majority of multiple pregnancies refer to twin/triplets, with the increase in the use of fertility drugs, the incidence of multiples has recently been growing in numbers.