Suprise!

So, I’m pretty sure you have all heard by now, but Tim and I are expecting not one, but two babies this fall! We were both quite surprised by the news, but are getting pretty excited for them! Since we are having twins I thought I would share some information about twins with you all. Also, I have included a few pictures of our first two sonograms. Here are the details so far:

Due: December 7, 2011 (40 week due date)

Actual Due Date: Sometime in November, most likely. The doctor will deliver at 38 weeks, as he considers this full term for twins. However, on average, mothers of twins deliver sometime between 35 and 36 weeks, which would be sometime around the beginning to middle of November.

First Sonogram- Taken at about 8 weeks on 4/26/2011. We could see two little beans and two little heartbeats which told us that yes, it looked like we were going to have 2!

Second Sonogram: Taken on 5/11/2011. Taken when the babies were about 10 weeks old. You can see both their arms and the heads and bodies. One of the babies was super active and squirming all over and the doctor let us listen to their heartbeats as well! It was pretty cool.

Baby A

Heartbeat!

Baby B

Info about twins!
The doctor said based on how the babies looked that he is 99% sure we are having identical twins, which means two boys or two girls. We will be able to find out the sex (if we so choose) in late July. Here is some info that I researched about identical twins in case anybody wants to know more:

What are identical/monozygotic multiples?
Identical/Monozygotic multiples come from a single fertilized egg and are genetically identical. Monozygotic multiples are often referred to as identical twins/multiples. These multiples would all be the same gender and look alike.

How do identical/monozygotic multiples occur?
The occurrence of identical multiples is considered a random event and is not influenced by age, race, or heredity. Identical multiples occur in 3 to 4 of every 1,000 live births.

The correct term for identical twinning is monozygotic. Monozygotic twins form from a single (mono) fertilized egg (zygote). The zygote splits into two parts after conception, resulting in the development of two individual embryos. Because the two embryos are the result of a single egg/sperm combination, they have the same genetic origins. They have the same DNA.

Some interesting facts about identical twins:
-The causes of monozygotic twinning are generally unknown and unidentified. No one really knows why an egg splits; technically it's a malfunction of the normal development process.

-There's no hereditary trait that influences a predisposition to having identical twins. Identical twins do not run in families. Although there are families with a high incidence of identical twins, it is due to chance, coincidence or plain good luck.

-Identical twins represent about a third of all twins. Dizygotic twins are twice as common as monozygotic.

-Birth rate statistics for identical twinning have remained stable over the years, despite the overall increase in twins and multiples since the late 1980's. The odds of having identical twins is about 3 in 1,000, whereas the birthrate for all twins is about 32.2 in 1,000.

-Identical twinning is not generally influenced by fertility-enhancing treatments like drugs or in vitro, although monozygotic twins have been produced in pregnancies that were the result of such treatments.

-Birth rates for identical twins are consistent across populations; it is the same regardless of race, geography or maternal age.