Multiple Births Singleton Births More than 4 million

Multiple Births

Singleton Births • More than 4 million babies born in USA each year • 96% singleton births • Birth weight 4 -8 pounds • Weight gives good chance for living outside the mother

Twins • Twins – 2 babies • Occur about 3% of the time • Birth weight of 2 -5. 5 pounds • 2 types Identical and Fraternal

How twins happen • Identical • One egg/one sperm • Egg divides into two and separates • Look exactly alike because they have exactly the same genetic make up.

Twins (con’t) • Fraternal • Two eggs/two sperm • Babies develop side by side. • May or may not look alike • They do not have the same genetic make up.

Triplets • Triplets -3 babies • Occur about. 04% of the time • Birth weight 2. 5 -4 pounds • Typically 1 set of twins and a singleton. • Can be identical

Quadruplets • 4 babies • Occur about. 008% of the time • Birth weight 1. 5 -3 pounds • Makes it difficult to live outside mom without help.

Quintuplets • 5 babies • Occur about. 002% of the time • Birth weight less than 2 pounds

Sextuplets • 6 babies • Occur less than. 001% of the time • Birth weight less than 1. 5 pounds • Mom usually on fertility drugs. • Makes more than one egg be released at a time.

Septuplets • 7 babies • Occurs less than. 001% of the time • Birth weight 1 pound or less • Fertility drugs

Octuplets • 8 babies • Occurs less than. 001% of the time • Birth weight 11 oz – 1. 5 lbs • Fertility drugs • Octuplets born in Houston 1998 • 1 died after a week – only 11 ounces

Conjoined Twins • First called Siamese Twins • First celebrity set worked in a circus and were from Thailand – called Siam at that time. • Married 2 women and fathered 21 children • Died within 3 hours of each other

Some can be separated • Have enough organs and limbs (legs and arms) to live separate lives

Some can not be separated

Abby and Brittany Turn 16