Conceiving Twins

Improve your odds of having twins

Interested in conceiving twins? Check our our mini-guide on how to increase the odds of having twins.

We get many emails from parents to be who are hoping for the gift of double the love. While it's certainly not an exact science, there are a few things you can take into consideration and implement if you're trying for two.

For conceiving twins, or even just one baby for that matter, you'll want to educate yourself on female fertility cycles so that you can get the timing for intercourse right.

You'll want to be your healthiest. Being pregnant with twins takes a big toll on your body so the healthier you are to start with, the better. Put aside any bad habits like smoking and start taking a folic acid supplement. There have been some studies to show that taking this supplement can slightly raise the odds of having twins.

Get yourself some cassava root - a wild yam found in Africa. While science is not exactly sure why, the highest rates of twin birth are found in African region where the cassava root is a dietary staple. This may be due to an increase in ovulation caused by eating the yam.

Try to incorporate more milk, milk products and beef into your diet. In one medical study of twins, Dr. Gary Steinman found that women who followed a diet higher in milk and beef increased their chances of having twins, over those women who followed a vegan diet. There is some evidence that milk ingredients can help stimulate the ovaries, leading to the release of multiple eggs.

Keep on breastfeeding while you are trying to conceive! This can also increase your odds of conceiving twins. ( On the flip side, do be careful. If you're not ready or hoping for more children, do know that breastfeeding is not a reliable form of birth control!>)

Let yourself put on a few pounds as women who are slightly overweight have higher odds of conceiving twins.

Wait until you're in your thirties or later to start trying. Women over 30 start to release more than just one egg with each monthly cycle, thereby improving your odds of having twins if you wait till later in life to try.

Have a few babies first and then keep on going. Your chances of having twins go up after having two or more children prior.

Seek fertility treatments. IVF and clomid can often result in having twins or more.

And there you have it. Our brief list of what you can do to increase your chances of having twins. Next up? How IVF works and the chances of having an IVF twin pregnancy.