Moms of Twins Live Longer, Study Shows

New moms trying to juggle diapers and breastfeeding might think, “Thank God I didn’t have twins!” Turns out, it might bode well for a longer, healthier life if you did.  A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B shows that moms who get two bundles of joy from the stork tend to be healthier.

Plus: The Ups And Downs of Having Multiples

Common sense would have us believe that having two babies at once would mean a pregnancy and delivery would take their toll on the mother’s body. The opposite is actually true, and moms of twins were found to be “physically exceptional.” These superwomen have longer reproductive lives, shorter recoveries postpartum, more children after their twins, and even lived longer than moms of singletons. However, there’s a big caveat: The study takes data from hardy frontier women in Utah Population Database of the 1800s, a time before fertility treatments and procedures caused the rate of multiples to skyrocket. So we’re only talking about mothers of natural twins here.

Plus: What to Ask at Your Postpartum Check-up

The evolutionary theory behind all this is that women of stronger stock adapt to pass on their genes to twice as many kids. So if you conceived twins naturally, it may be proof you really are supermom.

Moms of twins, do you think this is true? Do you see yourself as stronger and healthier than moms of singletons?