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What Are Irish Twins Years ago, when two children were born within 12 months of each other, people often referred to them as “Irish twins.” Discover the history and modern perspective of the term “Irish twins,” a once derogatory phrase now reflecting closely spaced siblings. Explore the pros, cons, and parenting tips.
There are no statistics available for Irish twin births in the United States. However, very short birth intervals are unusual. One study found that mothers conceived 35 percent of subsequent pregnancies within 18 months of giving birth. However, Irish twins typically conceive about three months after a previous birth. Longer intervals from the previous childbirth to conception may occur if the following child is premature.
True Irish twins are two children who are 12 months or less apart, but people often use the term more broadly to include children who are 13, 14, or more months apart, especially if they end up in the same grade at school.
History Of Irish Twins
The term “Irish twins” first appeared in the late 19th century as a pejorative phrase referring to Irish emigration to the United States. The inference was that closely spaced sibling groups were one of the undesirable characteristics of large Irish Catholic families.
Indeed Irish people usually had children close in age because Catholics adhered strictly to the Church’s requirement with regard to contraception. So when the saying came up during that period, typically, the person was stereotyping them saying that they were uneducated, poor, and had no self-control, Irish people.
The word nowadays, in most cases, is not meant to be derogative but is a descriptive or classifying term for siblings born close in chronological time. In this way, some families would use the term with honor to describe children born close in chronological time.
The trouble is that you’ll want to be very careful about using this term; “Irish twins” is not only colloquialism, but it is also a pejorative of Irish background and thus offensive, even if you are using it in a loving way. It is better you simply acknowledge that they are closely spaced siblings or close-in-age siblings or say nothing about the ages of the children.
Types of Twins
Whenever the term ‘Irish twin’ is used, it is important to note that although the siblings are very closely aged, they are not actually twins. That is, they weren’t born during the exact same gestational period. The term ‘Irish twin’ is just an informal way of referring to siblings born close together.
Twins are two children born from the same conception, carried during the same pregnancy, and born together. Fraternal twins (dizygotic twins) are the main types, which result from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm. Identical twins (monozygotic twins) are from a single (mono) fertilized egg (zygote).
Irish Twins Problems
It can introduce a range of problems that can come with closely spaced births, increasing risks not just for the baby but for parents in terms of physical and mental health. When two very young children require care at the same time, parents may incur additional expenses. These expenses are multiplied by the parents’ equal need for more time out of the workforce. Divorce rates increase. However, how much of an effect these factors have varies greatly with each individual family member.
A study in 2013 realized that having child spacing too close has adverse effects on both mother and child. Short interpregnancy intervals increase the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia, making prevention of short interpregnancy intervals a public health priority in the United States.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists notes that back-to-back pregnancies involve risks. In fact, the ACOG recommends waiting at least six months after delivery before getting pregnant again, and optimally 18 months, due to a possible increased risk of pregnancy complications.
Possible Advantages of Irish Twins
While there are known risks of having children spaced closely together, there are also many potential benefits. For some families, their goal is to space their babies one after the other, enjoying having their kids grow up close in age. What is more, they contend that this will make the children have a closer bond and afford the family the opportunity to fully concentrate on one stage at a time. Even more, they can reuse or share many items, such as clothing, toys, and bottles.
The ideal, then, is that there would be a reduction, where appropriate, in the gap between pregnancies. Some may point towards having children, others towards late childbearing. Whereas still others might not plan any gap at all, leaving it to nature, and allow them to happen with short breaks in between or stretches of them. Well, you know best what the right spacing plan is for your children—sometimes prevailing on its own despite our plans.
Tips for Parenting Irish Twins Parenting is hard enough, and it’s particularly demanding when raising two so close in age. Here is some advice to make it all a little easier. Ask for help
Especially during the baby and toddler phase, raising two kids close in age can feel overwhelming at times. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether that means splitting child and household responsibilities with your partner or hiring outside help.
Also Read : Know About Pregnancy With Mono-Mono Twins
Create a routine
Solid sleep and eating schedules can be lifesaving for you and your little ones. It won’t only get and keep things in order, but this will give you the opportunity to squeeze in your much-needed self-time.
Do not compare
Children have different paces and phases of growth. Children born 12 months apart are not an exception. It is another tip for you to avoid comparing.
Encouraging individuality
Irish twins can be very competitive, so parents must recognize their individuality. As they grow older, encourage them to have separate activities and hobbies so they can get a break from one another and have their own outlet to shine.
Practice self-care
Even when you feel like you don’t have the first second to devote yourself, it’s important to carve some out for self-care. Tending to your spiritual, physical, psychological, and social needs helps you feel your best and be the best parent to those Irish twins you possibly can be.
Raising Irish Twins vs. Fraternal or Identical Twins
Although it poses certain issues about parenting different children, many of the challenges faced are most likely the same as having fraternal or identical twins.
One notable difference is that in the case of Irish twins, one has a newborn and an older baby, whereas parents of twins have two babies of the same age at the same time. Therefore, actual twins are born from one pregnancy, whereas Irish twins emulate the process of two separate ones, which certainly has a different impact on the pregnant person’s body.
Despite that, there are also quite similar aspects, such as:
Pony up those supplies. With Irish twins, you have both kids in diapers at the same time, both of them in cribs or high chairs, and of course, you have to double up your stroller.
Parallel schedules. While not as common as those of generations ago, in some cases kids this close together can even end up in the same grade at school. They may like the same things, have the same friends, and generally live a parallel life as they grow older much in the way that twins would.
Shared birthdays: Their birthdays might be near enough that your family celebrates their birthdays together.
Debatable, with younger children. For example, a newborn and an 11-month-old baby are in different developmental realms altogether. In contrast, a 9-year-old and one who will soon be 10 are not so different. Once puberty comes, the age differences might become more evident again for some while and then become minor again as the teens develop.
