The most frequent kind of human multiple birth is twins (two kids), however triplets (three), quadruplets (four), quintuplets (five), sextuplets (six), septuplets (seven), and octuplets (eight) have all been documented, with all siblings born alive. Scientists believe that the odds of such births happening by chance are about one in 100.
Multiple births are very rare, occurring in approximately 1 in 80 live births. Because of this rarity, little is known about how to care for these babies or what differences they will likely show compared to other multiples or single infants.
What is the average number of children born to American women? The total fertility rate (TFR) - the average number of children born to American women over their lifetime - has fallen from about five children per woman in 1965 to just under two children today. However, because rates vary based on age groups, we can look at specific birth rates to get a better idea of what's going on. For example, the birth rate for white non-Hispanic women between the ages of 15-19 years old is about 60% higher than the TFR, meaning that many of these young women are choosing not to have children.
Women in their 20s and 30s account for nearly half of all births.
Even though multiple births are uncommon, the public remains fascinated by them. We've all heard about quintuplets (five infants at once), sextuplets (six babies at once), and other higher-order multiples thanks to reality television. But what about those who have downshifted a little bit and born something closer to a quadruplet, twin, triplet, or single baby?
The terms used for these pregnancies vary depending on whom you ask. Some people call them multigravidas or multifetal pregnancies, while others refer to them as having had a multiple birth or even a horde of children. The former terms can be confusing because it implies that there are more than one pregnant woman, which isn't always the case; moreover, using these terms could lead people to believe that your pregnancies are beyond the usual two per mother. With this in mind, we will only use the term "multiple birth" from here on out.
There are several reasons why a woman might have more than one baby at a time. The most common ones are when a woman has twins (or more) due to fertility treatments or when she carries her pregnancies to term but delivers four or more babies simultaneously. A few other factors that may lead to multiple births include advanced maternal age, excessive alcohol consumption by the mother, use of drugs and illegal substances by the mother, and chronic health problems for the mother.
Triplets are the product of a multiple birth, in which three kids develop and mature in the same womb before being delivered at the same time. Triplets are similar to twins, except instead of having one more sibling, they have two other brothers or sisters. Octuplets are eight children born as a result of a multiple birth. The term "octuplet" is used because each baby is born separated by an interval of eight months.
These are just some of the many ways that people can be multi-talented. There are musicians, dancers, actors, artists, architects, mathematicians, scientists, authors and more who are also multi-talented. Some people are even gifted at more than one skill!
The most common number of siblings is two, followed by one. Of all multiple births, about 95% are twins, usually identical ones. Triplets account for only 3% of all births, but they make up 9% of all multiples. Octuplets are rare - so rare that no one knows exactly how many there are worldwide. However many more than eight babies have been born simultaneously. Estimates range from the usual figure of around 300 cases per year to as high as 1,500.
Octopuses are invertebrates with eight arms and two tentacles attached to their head. They are related to squid and cuttlefish.