Twins are More Likely Than They Used to Be

A new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) finds that "In 2009, 1 in every 30 babies born in the United States was a twin, compared with 1 in every 53 babies in 1980." The twin birth rates rose by particularly large amounts amongst women over 35 and, especially, women over 40. I would certainly presume that much of that increase is due to the development, and greater availability and effectiveness, of infertility treatments over the last three decades.

As the data brief concludes, "The study of multiple births is important because of their elevated health risks and accompanying greater health care costs. The rise in twinning has influenced the upward trend in key infant health indicators such as preterm and low birthweight rates during the 1980s and 1990s."

- Rick