Am I having twins? Common signs to look for
So you’re pregnant and wondering if you’re having twins? Whether you’re having intense pregnancy symptoms or just have a gut feeling, there are a few signs that could indicate a twin pregnancy.
That said, the only way to know for sure is through an ultrasound (or waiting for two bodies to pop out!) – but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep an eye out for some signs of your own.
So without further ado, here are some common signs you could be having twins.
Morning sickness 2.0
It’s morning sickness but worse. Twice the babies mean twice the hormones, so it makes sense that pregnancy symptoms will be more severe with twins.
According to Very Well Family, women who gave birth to twins said the symptoms in the first trimester were worse than previous pregnancies. On the other hand, some mums of twins reported having no symptoms at all.
Bump growth
If your bump appears to grow quite quickly, it could be twins. Your doctor or midwife will keep an eye on the size of your uterus.
But it’s also possible that you got your dates wrong and you’re further along than you first thought!
Weight gain
First of all, it’s healthy for women to gain weight during pregnancy. That said, women carrying twins can expect to gain more weight than a single pregnancy.
The Mater Mothers website says: “As a general guideline, you can expect to gain between 11½ and 16 kilograms during pregnancy.” As for a twin pregnancy, women can expect to gain around 15 – 20 kgs. So if you are experiencing rapid weight gain – it could be a sign you’re carrying twins.
Fetal movements
Feeling lots of movement in your uterus can be a sign of twins, but this is more noticeable the further along you are in pregnancy.
A mum-to-be usually feels her first foetal movements at around 18-20 weeks – but with twins, some women can feel flutters (also known as the quickening) around 16 weeks.
Very Well Family says some women say “they felt like they had an octopus in their abdomen when they were pregnant with multiples.”
HCG levels
It’s thought that if you get a very strong positive on a home pregnancy test a few days before your period is due, there’s a chance it could be twins. But this method isn’t reliable.
Additionally, when you have a blood test to confirm your pregnancy, your doctor will get a reading for your HCG levels. Again, unusually high levels can be a sign of a multiple pregnancy – but the only way to find out for sure is to wait until your ultrasound.
Ultrasound
Having an early pregnancy scan is the only way to tell for sure if you’re having twins – but you will most likely have to wait until around seven weeks. That’s when a heartbeat (or two) should be able to be detected.
Other signs of a twin pregnancy
Twins run in your family
There is a gene that makes women more likely to release more than one egg, resulting in two separate eggs being fertilised by two separate sperm to create fraternal twins (non-identical). Identical twins, however, don’t run in families.
You had fertility treatment
In Australia, doctors prefer not to transfer more than one embryo during assisted reproduction treatment – but that doesn’t mean twins don’t happen with a single embryo.
In fact, according to one study, researchers calculated that the proportion of multiple pregnancies after a single embryo transfer is 1.6%, and that 1.36% of multiple pregnancies after single embryo transfer occur as a result of a process called zygotic splitting.
When will I find out if I’m having a multiple pregnancy?
Your care provider will be able to tell you if you’re having a multiple pregnancy at your first ultrasound, or dating scan. A dating scan is optional and is conducted around seven weeks (before your 12 weeks scan).
As well as finding out if you’re having a multiple pregnancy, a dating scan check for a heartbeat, movement and normal growth. Pregnancy Birth and Baby says, “A dating scan is carried out by ultrasound. A sonographer, who is usually a radiographer or a midwife trained in ultrasound, will complete your scan.”
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