To Have More Or Not Have More - That Is The Question

Question: Should I consider having another baby, knowing there is a chance that I might have another set of multiples?

Choose among the following:

A). Yes, I’m nearing that magic number in another couple of years - “35” - at which point, the risks/complications of pregnancy tend to increase. Do it before this magical “35” creeps up on me.

B). No, I’ve gotten my body back to its pre-pregnancy condition and am loving it!

C). Maybe. After all, I’ll receive another incredible gift – a baby, or maybe even two again.

Answer: All of the Above.

So this is my dilemma. My family has a history of having twins and with my first pregnancy, I proved to have the genetic propensity to keep that family legacy going. After having a set of identical twins naturally, I have recently been wondering, if I were to get pregnant again, what are the chances that I’d have another set of multiples?

Here’s what I do know:

- Giving birth to multiples once raises your odds of having multiples again to 1 in 12 – about 4 times greater than the average woman.
- Being taller and nearing the age of 35 increases your odds of conceiving multiples again.
- Having a family history of twins increases your odds of having multiples.

I currently meet all the above criteria.

Lately, I've been toying with the idea of getting pregnant again. There is a part of me that says Paige and Taylor can’t be my last babies. Then, there is a part of me that says I can’t imagine going through another pregnancy while also having to care for toddler twins. I also think to myself, perhaps I’d be lucky enough to do this one more time, whether it’s one baby or more.

I vacillate again.

If I did get pregnant again, sleep will be in short supply. And, if I were to have a set of twins again (oh my), supplies and diapers will have to be purchased in double again. Would I be up for the physical drain again of the first 6 months? Would I be able to manage twin toddlers and a newborn?

Let’s jump ahead to next week….I have an appointment to see my OB/GYN to discuss all these matters. To get my OB/GYNs advice. To talk about any future plans for transitioning back into motherhood again should my husband and I decide that yes, we want to experience something rare and wonderful again – the blessings of a newborn baby (or maybe two babies). Perhaps after talking with my OB/GYN next week, we’ll decide definitively that yes, the romance of motherhood and being pregnant should continue….we’ll see.