[Submitted Question]

I already have two children under four. My husband and I are thinking about having a third but I am a bit worried about the possibility of having twins. We could handle one more but it would be very difficult with four little ones (financially as well as with the needed care and attention). What are the chances of having twins in my case? I am 28 years old and there are no twins in my immediate family.

[WombToBloom]

Ha! Welcome to my life story. Went for number three and got a bonus. The difference between us is that I was almost 35 – the magic “advanced maternal age” number. My doctor readily pointed out that the likelihood of twins increases with age, especially after 35. Old eggs…

My bonus is the sweetest baby I ever had. So, I’m kinda glad we got him, but I understand your concern. One in 89 births are twin births without medical assistance (a.k.a. fertility treatment). Apparently, twins are slightly more common in African-Americans than in caucasians; slightly less common in Asians and Hispanics. Also more likely (per some studies) in tall women, in women who’ve had twins before and in women who have had multiple pregnancies before.