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Development

Expert Q&A:
Do twins develop differently in the womb than singletons?

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Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
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Question


Do twins develop differently in the womb than singletons?

Answer


Thanks for the compliment and congratulations on your twin pregnancy. Twins are always more exciting than singletons, beginning in pregnancy. You'll want to find out if they are monozygotic (identical) or dizygotic (fraternal). The ultrasound should have given you that information by now.

All twins are at risk for being a bit underweight at birth. Their growth keeps pace with that of singleton babies until about 30 weeks in the womb, when it begins to increase more slowly. About half of twin pregnancies end prematurely, so don't hold onto that due date too tightly. It's also more likely that you will deliver one or both of these guys by C-section and that one or both of them will be positioned breech -- that is, not head down.

Twins are very individual, even identical ones. They will have different personalities that you may sense even now and will come to appreciate more after birth. Don't be surprised if you feel more attached or attracted to one or the other at first or that those feelings switch to the other later. Over time, you will feel a balance of affection, attraction and care for them as individuals. You may even be a little jealous of the close relationship they are likely to have with one another.

There are some resources to enrich this experience for you. Read Elizabeth Noble's book, Having Twins, now in its third edition. Join and get the magazine of the National Organization of the Mothers of Twins Clubs ( www.nomotc.org). Check out Mothers of Super Twins ( www.mostonline.org). Eat right, put your feet up and enjoy this very special event.
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