Have you just visited the gynae and found out that you’re carrying three babies? Are you sitting quietly googling your latest revelation and going through a rollercoaster of emotions, wondering.. what are the chances?
Well, the odds of triplet pregnancies depend on several factors, including maternal age, family history, and the use of fertility treatments.
On average, the incidence of triplet pregnancies is around 1 in 7,000 pregnancies, which means that less than 0.015% of pregnancies result in triplets.
The likelihood of having triplets vary depending on factors such as:
Fertility treatments
The use of fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), can increase the likelihood of having twins or higher-order multiple pregnancies. Triplets conceived naturally, without any fertility treatment, are called spontaneous triplets and are uncommon. Only about one in every 10,000 pregnancies results in naturally conceived triplets.
Family history
If there is a family history of multiple pregnancies, the chances of having triplets may be higher.
Maternal age
The chances of having triplets increase with the age of the pregnant mother, particularly for women over the age of 35.
Race and ethnicity
Certain racial and ethnic groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics, have a slightly higher incidence of multiple pregnancies compared to other groups.
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If you are an expectant triplet parent, congratulations and welcome to the tribe! We know how hard it can be to find triplet pregnancy related information and that's why Multiples Matter was created. Join us over at our social media platforms and do sign up for our newsletter! Reach out if there's something you wish to know but can't find information about – we promise to try our best to help!
Read also: [Spotlight] Triplet Mummies Share Their Postpartum Arrangements
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