Can twins have different fathers?

In rare cases, fraternal twins can be born from two different fathers in a phenomenon called heteropaternal superfecundation. Although uncommon, rare cases have been documented where a woman is pregnant by two different men at the same time.

babycenter.com - Can twins have different fathers? - BabyCenter

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Twins with different fathers: is it common?

When it comes to twins, the image that probably comes into your mind is identical twins – which is when a single egg that has been fertilized by a single sperm is split. It's impossible for these types of twins to have different fathers. However, fraternal twins – when two separate eggs are fertilized by two separate sperm – can look different from one another. Only about 19 heteropaternal superfecundation cases worldwide have been reported to date. So, while it's not common, it's definitely possible for twins to have different fathers in a phenomenon called heteropaternal superfecundation.

How heteropaternal superfecundation occurs

Heteropaternal superfecundation, or when twins have different fathers, is actually extremely rare. It occurs when a second egg is released during the same menstrual cycle. That egg then needs to be fertilized by the sperm of a different man during sex that takes place in a short period of time from the time that the first egg was fertilized. Basically, in order for this to happen, a woman needs to release an egg, have sex with a man, then release another egg, and have sex with another man – all within her ovulation window, which is 12-24 hours from the release of an egg. However, since sperm can live in the body for roughly five days, the timeline can be extended.

Paternity testing after twins are born

Fraternal twins already look different from one another, since they are born from two different eggs fertilized with two different sperm, so there's no quick way to determine if they are from different fathers. However, one way to figure out if twins have different fathers is with a paternity test after the twins are born. A DNA paternity test, which will determine if a man is a child's biological father, can be done quite easily after the twins are born in one of two ways. The test can be either a blood test or a cheek swab and it must be done for both twins and the fathers in question. A lab will then run the tests and confirm who the father is – and whether the twins have different fathers.

Prenatal paternity testing

Amniocentesis and CVS are two invasive prenatal tests that are almost never performed for paternity testing. If they are performed for another indication, you may discuss adding paternity testing to the analysis. Invasive tests may increase the risk of miscarriage. A non-invasive prenatal paternity (NIPP) test requires taking the mom-to-be's blood during the first trimester and then having the lab analyze the fetal DNA. You will also need to get DNA from the potential fathers though a cheek sample as mentioned above.

Learn more about twins:

Signs you're having twins or multiples

Likelihood of twins: Can you increase your chances?

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What not to do when trying to conceive?

Things Not to Do If You Want to Get Pregnant Lose or Gain a Lot of Weight. Overdo the Exercise. Put Off Starting a Family Too Long. Wait Until You Miss Your Period to Stop Drinking. Smoke. Double Up on Your Vitamins. Amp Up on Energy Drinks or Espresso Shots. Skimp on Sex. More items... •

webmd.com - Things Not to Do If You Want to Get Pregnant - WebMD

You're thinking about starting your journey toward becoming a mom. You've subscribed to the baby and parent magazines or checked out the websites. Maybe you've thumbed through a couple of baby name books, too. You're mentally ready to welcome a little one. Now it's time to get your body as healthy as possible, too. But it's not enough to put together a to-do list. There are things to avoid, too. If you want to get pregnant, make sure you DON'T do any of these: 1. Lose or Gain a Lot of Weight Weighing too much or too little lowers your chances of becoming pregnant. Either can cause irregular menstrual cycles. When you don't have a period every month, your ovaries won't release an egg, or ovulate. When this doesn't happen, you can't make a baby. Sometimes, weight changes cause swings in hormone levels that lead to infertility. Also, obesity makes you more likely to have: Miscarriage

Gestational diabetes, a type that only happens during pregnancy

Preeclampsia

A baby with a high birth weight and certain birth defects Your goal is to have a healthy weight before and during pregnancy. Experts suggest moms-to-be aim for a body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27. 2. Overdo the Exercise It's never healthy to be a couch potato. But if you're thinking of getting pregnant, this isn't the time to train for a triathlon. Vigorous exercise might bring on hormone changes that make it hard for your ovaries to make or release eggs. Intense running, aerobics, swimming, or biking makes it harder to get pregnant even if you're at a healthy weight. But if you're overweight, exercise can help you shed pounds and improve your odds for pregnancy.

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