Extraordinary Case: Woman Gives Birth to Two Sets of Twins While on Birth Control Pills
A young single mother described the birth of two consecutive sets of twins before the age of 21 as a "miracle," despite using birth control.
Kaitlin Brooks, now 22 years old, vividly recalls the overwhelming joy she felt when she discovered she was expecting twins in March 2019. However, her happiness quickly turned to surprise when she learned, shortly after her sons' first birthday, that she was pregnant with another set of twins, despite diligently using birth control.
"At the age of 21, I had the incredible experience of having two sets of twins. My first set was born when I was 19, and the second set arrived when I was 21," shared Brooks. She revealed that her doctor informed her that every time she gets pregnant, it is likely to result in twins because she releases two eggs during each cycle.
As a busy and grateful mother of four, Brooks is considering the possibility of undergoing tubal ligation as a more reliable method of birth control for her. However, until that decision is made, she is exploring the option of becoming a surrogate for women who are unable to have children of their own.
"I feel like what has occurred is truly miraculous because for the longest time, I never thought I could conceive. It's daunting to know that if I were to become pregnant again, I would have multiple babies once more, and I struggle to envision how I could handle another set," she expressed.
She also mentioned that twins run in her family, as her great-grandmother's sisters had twins and triplets. However, she was still taken aback when she learned that she would be having twins as well. In November 2020, while her first set of fraternal twins was just one year old, she discovered she was pregnant once again.
"It was yet another surprise and another shock for me. I never imagined it would be twins again. I discovered my pregnancy a little earlier this time, at three weeks, and found out they were twins at six weeks," she explained.
Brooks' mother even thought she was joking about having another set of twins, Pierce and Piper, considering she was on birth control. She was taking contraceptive pills when she got pregnant with the babies.
Brooks, at the age of 22, often surprises people when she reveals that she has two sets of twins. Many individuals express their astonishment and question how she manages it all. While she is not currently considering permanent sterilization, she contemplates the idea of becoming a surrogate mother, as she empathizes with those who are unable to carry children themselves. However, she intends to wait until her own children are a bit older before pursuing this path. Brooks has no plans to have any more children of her own and feels content with the four she already has.
Researchers have made a significant discovery regarding the hereditary nature of twins, specifically nonidentical twins. They have identified two genes that play a role in increasing the likelihood of conceiving nonidentical twins. These genes are associated with the production and processing of the hormone responsible for the maturation of oocytes. This groundbreaking research marks the first time that specific genetic variants contributing to this likelihood have been identified.
There are two distinct mechanisms through which a woman can conceive twins. In one scenario, her ovaries release two eggs simultaneously during ovulation, and both eggs become fertilized, resulting in fraternal or nonidentical twins. On the other hand, identical twins are conceived when a single embryo divides into two during early development. Research suggests that genetics plays a significant role in the likelihood of having twins. Women with a family history of fraternal twins, particularly among their female relatives, have a higher chance of conceiving twins themselves. This indicates a genetic influence on twinning occurrences.
