Six Myths About Twins

twins underneath a blanket

Twins capture the curiosity of the world. From the Spearmint gum twins to Mary Kate and Ashley, seeing double brings amusement and assumptions. Just like anything else, the idea of twins carry a lot of fables with the facts. Parents of multiples need to field a lot of questions and misconceptions. Here are some common myths about twins debunked.


Myth 1: Twins Run in Families


Lots of people think that twins run in a family, so if you are a twin, or are related to twins, they say the chances are higher that you'll have them too. While there are some biological factors when it comes to fraternal twins, the same isn’t true for identical twins. Identical twins are the result of a fertilized egg splitting after conception, so they are a completely unexplained occurrence in nature. It also isn’t true that twins skip a generation.


Myth 2: Twins Are Opposite


Perhaps it is because their personality differences are more obvious when they look the same but act different, but it isn’t true that twins are just the opposite of each other. Like any siblings, they will have some things in common and some things that make them unique. People tend to think that twins have a fierce sibling rivalry or are always in competition with each other and that is no truer for twins than it is for singletons. It is likely worse when families push comparisons onto twins.


mom holding two sets of baby booties


Myth 3: Twins Are Exactly the Same


It goes the same to say that twins also aren’t exactly one in two. They are individuals, regardless of whether they're identical or fraternal. Their similarities can often be the focus of great attention for people, but all twins are unique, just like single siblings. It does not mean they are automatically best friends or inseparable, either. While many twins share a special bond, not all of them invent their own language to ignore the rest of the world. They enjoy relationships with other people just as much as their time spent together.


Myth 4: You Can’t Breastfeed


Mothers are sometimes told, by family or even by their doctors, that breastfeeding twins is next to impossible. They may be pushed to supplement, or give up breastfeeding altogether, through the fear that nursing two babies at once is too hard. Afraid their bodies won’t produce enough milk to keep multiple babies thriving, mothers throw in the towel. But the truth is, your body makes enough for the demand. Don’t feel pressured to give up breastfeeding simply because you have twins.


mom breastfeeding twins


Myth 5: Natural Childbirth Is Off the Table


Does having twins automatically mean you have to have cesarean birth? Not at all. Not all twins are automatically delivered via c-section. There are a number of medical reasons why c-sections are considered for different women, and some risks associated with multiples may increase the consideration of cesareans as a safe option. However, some obstetricians have a lower c-section rate with twins than with single births. Many doctors are open to consider trying a vaginal delivery with twins, as long as other conditions are favorable for the babies and mother.


Myth 6: One Twin Is Good; One Twin Is Evil


They aren’t yin and yang. They are human beings. Just like it is not true that twins are exactly the same, or exactly the opposite, it is also a silly myth that one twin is always good and the other is always bad. There is good and bad in all of us. One twin may act like an angel one day and more devilish the next, but this isn’t indicative of who they are. Twins are people. They are siblings with their twin in many of the same ways singleton siblings are.