I have talked with many mothers who at one point during their pregnancy, were at very least intrigued by the idea that they might be having twins. Maybe someone in their family has had them or maybe they just like the thought of having two for the price of one. However, I can assure you, a twin pregnancy is distinctive from a singleton one. Here are a few tell tale signs that you might be expecting two!
1. Extreme morning sickness.
Every woman is different and some women wouldn’t experience morning sickness at all, some will experience moderate amounts and some will experience what feels like Montezuma’s revenge for the next 9 months. After three pregnancies with no morning sickness at all, morning sickness was my first clue that I was expecting twins.
2. Elevated HcG levels.
HcG is the hormone that a woman’s body produces to sustain a pregnancy. But beware: just because your hormone levels are elevated, doesn’t mean that you’re definitely having twins. It could simply mean that you are farther along that you thought you were in your pregnancy.
3. Abnormal AFP results.
Also known as a triple marker screen this optional test will show a “positive” or abnormally high result in a twin pregnancy.
4. Measuring Large for Gestational Age.
Many women who are pregnant with twins, measure abnormally large as early as 12 weeks. In my case, I was measuring 15 weeks at 12 weeks and it increased from there. Once a practitioner learns that you are having twins, he may likely abandon the practice of measuring your belly for gestational age and refer to sonograms instead. Other reasons you may measure large besides a twin pregnancy is too much weight gain or if it’s not your first pregnancy.
5. Early and frequent fetal movement.
Most mothers of multiples feel fetal movement as early as 14 weeks while a mother of a singleton is not likely to feel baby’s first kick until much later in the pregnancy around 22 weeks.
6. Weight Gain.
Just as measuring large for gestational age can indicate twins, so can rapid weight gain early in pregnancy. Be careful though–weight gain more than likely reflects eating choices rather than twins!
7. Extreme fatigue.
This is not your normal pregnancy tired. This is a “I can barely move my body” tired. Your body is working overtime to help grow two healthy babies instead of one and so it is likely that you will be more tired with twins. I could only do one thing a day while pregnant with the twins–either cook a meal, do something with the kids, clean a room in the house, etc.
8. A good hunch.
So this isn’t scientifically proven, but a family history of fraternal twins and a good hunch is worth following up on with your doctor.
9. A Doppler picks up two heart beats at the doctor’s office.
A Doppler done to check the fetal heartbeat can sometimes pick up two heartbeats or will pick up a warbled heartbeat. Whether or not the Doppler picks up both heartbeats largely depends on the positions of the babies.
10. Confirmation via an ultrasound.
If you are having an ultrasound done, and you see two heads, 4 arms and 4 legs–congratulations! You are having twins!
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