You could be thinking about the symptoms of twin pregnancy at times. Is it so because you are looking at a bigger bump? An ultrasound scan is a gold standard to confirm the number of babies. When a woman is pregnant, the body begins to make new hormones that bring many changes to accommodate the growing baby to term and deliver. Although there is no conclusive evidence, pregnancy hormones can be higher in twin pregnancy than singleton pregnancy. It may cause early and more apparent pregnancy symptoms in many moms. Keep reading to know the signs and symptoms of twin pregnancy and ways to care for your little ones in the womb.
What Factors Increase The Chances Of Twin Pregnancy?
A few of the likely factors that could increase the chances of twin pregnancy are:
Fertility treatment methods. In Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) such as IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, multiple embryos are transferred into the uterus that may lead to twins (1).
After 30 years of age, a woman’s body produces more FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which leads to the release of more than one egg from the ovary. This increases the odds of twin pregnancy (2).
If you are over the average height with a BMI of 30 or higher, the chances of getting pregnant with twins increase.
If you are already a mom to twins then there are chances of success again.
Even if you do not belong to any of the above categories, you might still have a chance to carry twins. So, how would you know if you are pregnant with twins?
Early Signs Of Twin Pregnancy
These early pregnancy signs hint you about your twins.
Higher hCG levels result in extreme morning sickness during the first two weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, you might experience extreme morning sickness, which is also termed as hyperemesis gravidarum (3). And, extreme nausea may set in even before missing periods.
Twin pregnancy translates into fatigue, exhaustion, sleepiness, and lethargy, two to three weeks into pregnancy. As you have to nurture two babies, you need good sleep and sufficient food for your body to work properly.
When you are carrying two babies, you develop an increased appetite as your body demands more food for the growing babies.
Twin pregnant belly is obvious as the bump is bigger than normal. Your uterus might expand more than that of the single fetus mothers as it has to accommodate two babies.
Mood swings become common due to the higher intensity of hormones generated by the body to meet the developmental requirements of your babies. This is easily noticeable from six weeks into pregnancy.
Pregnancy is detected by the increased level of hCG in the blood or urine. If the level is higher than the normal range, then it is an indication of twin pregnancy.
Besides these, there are more signs and symptoms, which differentiate a twin pregnancy for a normal pregnancy.
More Signs And Symptoms Of Twin Pregnancy
Depending on the early signs, you could decide whether or not you are pregnant with twins. But there are more signs which would help you reach a better conclusion.
Your doctor regularly checks the fundal height, which is taken from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. This indicates the development age of the fetus. The fundal height is the measure of the weeks you have progressed in pregnancy. If the measure is more than one centimeter a week, then it may be a sign of twin pregnancy.
Towards the end of the first trimester, the doctors may carry out a test called Doppler heartbeat count to detect the fetal heartbeat. If you are carrying twins, you can hear two hearts beat. However, the Doppler result is less accurate than ultrasound as it is difficult to differentiate one heartbeat from the other.
In twin pregnancy, shortness of breath is an early sign because of the thrust against the diaphragm put by two babies. You must consult your doctor if you feel uncomfortable.
Cramps are an early sign of twin pregnancy as the uterus enlarges more than normal.
Preterm labor is common during twin pregnancies and requires immediate medical attention.
Frequent back pains are a result of excess weight gain, uterus enlargement, and excess hormonal activity. Standing straight and holding your chest high can help you relax. Make sure to wear flats and avoid locking your knees while sitting.
Frequent urination is common during pregnancy. But in case of twin pregnancy it increases because of the pressure exerted by the growing uterus, which is bigger in size, on the bladder. However, do not cut down on the fluid intake because it is necessary to keep your body hydrated.Apart from these, there are a few more signs and symptoms of twin pregnancy that are very similar to regular pregnancy.
You would be averse to the smell of food that can make you feel nauseated.
Twin pregnancy requires more blood flow for healthy development of babies. The increased blood flow puts pressure on the veins leading to varicose veins generally on the legs. Furthermore, a significant thrust by the baby in the uterus causes compression of pelvic parts leading to the enlargement of veins near the vagina.
Digestion issues such as bloating, constipation, and heart burns are an early sign. Avoid spicy and oily foods, keep yourself hydrated, and take small but frequent meals to feel better.
Insomnia or lack of sleep is something that you may experience due to back pain, cramps, indigestion, nausea, and fatigue. The best way to sleep while pregnant with twins is on your sides with a pillow between your legs and under your tummy.
During the fourth and fifth week of twin pregnancy, you may have sore, tender, and painful breasts. This is due to the hormonal changes, and by the sixth week, the aureoles and the nipples become darker and painfully sensitive. Wearing maternity bras can help reduce the pain.
Twin pregnancy is likely to increase the risk of postpartum depression as it takes the mother more time to adjust to the post-birth schedule (4). Unlike in a regular pregnancy, the mothers in twin pregnancies get doubly exhausted, and have to feed more. Meditation and relaxation techniques along with the right diet can help you out of depression. You could also talk to the moms of twins and learn from their experiences.
A bigger tummy is a prominent sign of twin pregnancy. But does that mean that you should gain more weight than in a normal pregnancy?
How much weight should you gain when you are pregnant with twins?
Here is the table indicating the required weight gain during pregnancy as per the BMI of the expecting mother (5).
How Can Twin Pregnancy Affect The Babies’ Health
Twin pregnancies can affect babies to an extent. A few health issues include: The pregnancy itself could get complicated, and you must be prepared to deal with it head on!
Twin Pregnancy And Its Complications
Just like in a normal pregnancy, complications cannot be ruled out in a twin pregnancy. Below, we have mentioned a few potential complications of twin pregnancy.
You may have an early labor pain, resulting from uterine contractions that cause the cervix to open early.
Preeclampsia in twin pregnancy is two to three times higher than in single pregnancies (8). Usually, women are bound to have higher blood pressure during twin pregnancy due to extra pressure on the blood walls for more blood. Preeclampsia occurs during the 20th week of pregnancy and proper prenatal care can reduce the severity.
Iron helps bind oxygen to the blood. The shortage of iron and a high demand for blood and oxygen in the body result in anemia. The doctor usually prescribes iron supplements in such cases.
A condition called polyhydramnios arises due to excess amniotic fluid present in the uterus, leading to belly pain and breathing trouble (9).
Gestational diabetes is a result of an increased size of two placenta, higher hormonal levels of both the placenta, and increased resistance to insulin by the placenta. If left untreated, it can lead to severe problems in the mother and babies. Change in diet plans and close monitoring of insulin levels can prevent this.
Intrauterine fetal loss is a rare situation, where one of the two fetuses dies inside the uterus. The doctor takes a call on whether or not to surgically birth the demised fetus.
In the case of obstetric cholestasis, irregular bile flow causes excess bile salts to build up in the bloodstream. Proper medication and regular monitoring will help treat this condition effectively. Cutting down on fatty foods and alcohol prevents this situation.
There could be other complications that are similar to those in a single pregnancy. The doctor should be able to help you with these.
Katie Sagaser, an ABGC-board certified genetic counselor from San Diego, California, says, “While twin pregnancies have higher baseline risks for complications than singleton pregnancies, not all of them are high-risk pregnancies. Therefore, a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist may be recommended but it is not immediately guaranteed as soon as you find out you’re having twins. “Towards the end of your second trimester, your provider will likely want to see you more frequently than someone pregnant with a singleton since twin pregnancies have higher risks of pre-eclampsia and preterm labor.”
How To Deal With Twin Pregnancy Stress?
Here are some simple tips to cope with the situation. Ask for help from your family and friends as you need a lot of support during this period.
Talk with other moms who have twins. Try to understand their experiences and how they dealt with any problems that came along. This may help you take the right steps.
During twin pregnancy, you will feel extremely exhausted. Therefore, get sufficient sleep.
In the case of depression, talk to your doctor. He can suggest ways to overcome it. You could also seek your family’s help.
If you are a working woman, make sure to take maternity leave as soon as possible. Towards the delivery, you may experience discomforts, and rest is of utmost priority at this stage.
Eat well and do gentle exercises such as walking as it will help you overcome stress.
During twin pregnancy, you can expect an early delivery. Therefore, plan for it in advance and get everything in place and organized at home.
Carrying two lives inside you is nothing less than a magical experience. Holding your babies after all the battles makes the pain wane. But during your journey of pregnancy, make sure you take care of yourself, and get the health check-ups done regularly.
