Will You Conceive Twins If Youre Taking Supplements
Folic acid is a B vitamin. Many doctors recommend taking it before and during pregnancy to reduce the risk for neural tube defects like spina bifida. Prior to becoming pregnant, doctors recommend taking about 400 micrograms of folic acid per day and increasing this amount to 600 micrograms during pregnancy.
There have been some small studies that suggest folic acid may increase the likelihood of conceiving multiples. But there arent any large-scale studies to confirm that this increases your chances for multiples. If you are trying to get pregnant, taking folic acid will help protect your babys brain development.
How Is A Twin Pregnancy Belly Different From A Singleton Belly
With a twin pregnancy belly, your bump will show early on. You may need maternity clothes shortly after finding out you are pregnant. Your expanding bump may also cause you to outgrow clothes quickly because of extra weight gain. Its common to put on around 50 lbs. during a twin pregnancy, compared to 30 lbs. for a singleton baby.
You Have A Sneaking Suspicion
The old wives’ tale that double yolks are a sign of twins may ring true for some! Start noticing any potential signs and tapping into your early maternal instincts. Dreams, premonitions, intuition, hunches…many moms of twins look back in hindsight and realize they encountered these serendipitous signs shortly before they found out they were pregnant with more than one baby.
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How Can I Tell If My Twins Are Identical
The most accurate way to tell if twins are identical is through a DNA test. This can only be done after your babies are born.
The placenta could also provide clues. If your first ultrasound scan is done before 14 weeks, it should be possible to tell accurately what kind of placenta your twins have.
Otherwise, the placenta can be examined after your babies are born.
For more information on this and birth options, read about giving birth to twins.
Read more about the different types of twins on the Twins Trust website.
More detailed information on DNA testing and how to find out whether twins or triplets are identical is available on the Multiple Births Foundation website.
How Much Weight Should You Gain If Youre Pregnant With Multiples
If youre pregnant with multiples, you need to gain more weight than if you were pregnant with one baby. The amount of weight to gain depends on your weight before pregnancy and how many babies you have. Talk with your provider about how much weight to gain.
Heres what you should know about gaining weight if youre pregnant with twins:
- If you were at a healthy weight before pregnancy, you want to gain about 37 to 54 pounds during pregnancy.
- If you were overweight before pregnancy, you want to gain about 31 to 50 pounds during pregnancy.
- If you were affected by obesity before pregnancy, you want to gain about 25 to 42 pounds during pregnancy.
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What Pregnancy Really Feels Like
I cant take credit for admitting that pregnancy is hard. Susan Magee, author of The Pregnancy Countdown Book imparted that revelation. Her book guided me through pregnancy.
Specifically, she wrote, Im going to tell you something about pregnancy that I wish someone had told me flat out, straight up, and early on: Pregnancy is wonderful, joyful, and miraculous. But its also hard work. Yes, pregnancy is hard work.
When I was carrying my now 1-year-old son, I experienced what many would call an easy first trimester. Even so, during that time I:
- had tender breasts
- felt general malaise
But I didnt throw up. Nor was I in a lot of pain. I was just constantly cranky.
Everything went downhill during my second trimester, though. I was tired all the time, even if I got eight hours of sleep.
I also peed a lot. I already had an overactive bladder to start with, but during pregnancy, I went running for the bathroom every 10 minutes, if not less. I couldnt leave the house without using the restroom at least five times, even if nothing came out of me.
The constant need to urinate brought on by pregnancy affected my personal and professional life. For example, I missed out on a workshop I really wanted to attend because I wasnt able to find a bathroom within the 30 minutes between leaving my apartment and reaching the train station. I ended up turning around and heading back home to avoid disaster.
You’re Undergoing Fertility Treatments
Although fertility treatments dont come with as high a multiples rate as they used to, having any kind of assisted reproduction ups the chances of a multiple pregnancy.
About one-third of twin births and three-fourths of triplet, quadruplet and other higher-order multiple births can be attributed to fertility treatments, according to a 2013 study in The New England Journal of Medicine, though the numbers are coming down because of improved fertility treatment protocols.
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No : Risk Of Preeclampsia During Pregnancy Is Higher In Twin Pregnancies
“People really don’t know what causes preeclampsia to start, but we know it occurs more frequently in twin pregnancies,” Monga says. Preeclampsia is marked by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and sometimes swelling in the feet, legs, and hands. It is the precursor to the more serious, potentially fatal eclampsia.
Will I Need To Visit My Doctor More Frequently
While every pregnancy is different, most women carrying twins will havemore frequent prenatal visits than women carrying only one baby. If yourtwins are sharing one placenta, you will automatically have a more frequentmonitoring schedule.
If your pregnancy doesnt have complications, your prenatal visits may notdiffer much from a singleton pregnancy until you get to the end of yoursecond trimester. At that point, youll be seen more frequently becausethere is a higher risk ofpre-eclampsiaand preterm labor.
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Risks Of Twin Pregnancies
Although some women may think a twin pregnancy is more desirable, given that one pregnancy results in two babies, most practitioners would caution them about the increased risk of complications.
Common risks of being pregnant with twins include:
- Risk of twin-twin transfusion syndrome in mono-chorionic pregnancies
Articles You Should Read This Week
At this point you may not know for sure that youre having twins, you may just know that you are pregnant and you have a really good hunch that youre having twins. Or youre here because you had a really early ultrasound and were shocked to find out youre 5 weeks pregnant with twins! Either way, we are glad youre here! But it is SO EARLY in your pregnancy that theres not a ton of information to share with you just yet
BUT that doesnt mean we cant share with you some articles that will help you to start THINKING about what a twin pregnancy will mean. When youre pregnant with twins knowledge is power and we are big fans of learning over here!
Starting to see your doctor? Heres 4 questions to ask your doctor when youre pregnant with twins
Do you want to know the sexes of your twins or do you want it to be a surprise? Read what other twin parents have done.
Already having trouble sleeping? Find out which is the best pregnancy pillow.
Our new digital twin pregnancy journal is up for sale on the Twiniversity Etsy store! This is the first and only digital journal exclusively for twin pregnancy. Its the perfect way to record your precious twin pregnancy memories to cherish for years to come. and while youre at it, check out our expecting twins classes and Twiniversity Shop!
Starting to think about your twin baby shower? Here are our top twin baby shower themes and games.
Want some cute twin baby shower invitations? These are our favorite twin baby shower invitations!
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What Is Considered Full
A full-term pregnancy is 37 weeks. Twin pregnancies rarely last this long, with the typical twin pregnancy lasting 35 to 36 weeks. Many people go into labor sooner.
Few treatments are available to prevent preterm labor, and they’re not always successful. Once you go into active labor, there’s no way to stop labor from progressing.
Frame Your Twin Pregnancy Announcement
You can get creative in so many ways with this. One of our favorites is easy to do yourself. Just use photo frames with some pretty paper and write on the glass with a dry erase marker as Kristy B. did in this photo alongside her daughters.
Amy S.used a framed chalkboard with her son in 4 photo frames for her twin pregnancy announcement. I LOVE the look on his face in the fourth frame! twin pregnancy
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How You Feel About Having Twins Or Triplets
Some women and couples may be very excited to find out they are having twins or triplets. Others may be shocked or feel anxious about what this means for them.
Its natural to feel nervous or overwhelmed. Most women who are pregnant with twins deliver healthy babies, but carrying more than 1 baby can increase the health risks for the mother and baby.
You may also be a bit worried about how youll cope physically, mentally and financially with 2 or more children. It may be reassuring to know that you will have extra antenatal care from a specialist team or doctors and midwives that are expert in managing twin and triplet pregnancies. This team will do everything they can to keep you and your babies comfortable, safe and well during pregnancy and birth.
This team may also include support from a mental health professional, a womens health physiotherapist, an infant feeding specialist and a dietitian. This team should be able to give you all the advice you need about:
The advice for keeping healthy in pregnancy is similar whether you’re expecting twins, triplets or just 1 baby. Eating a healthy, balanced diet, doing gentle exercise and drinking lots of fluid will help. It’s also important to attend all your antenatal appointments so your maternity team can keep a close eye on you and your babies.
How Twin Pregnancies Are Confirmed
The only way to know if you are truly pregnant with twins is with an ultrasound scan, typically performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. When you meet with your doctor or midwife for an early prenatal visit , they will perform a pelvic exam and an ultrasound to confirm the number of babies. If both a pelvic exam and ultrasound show two fetuses, you are officially diagnosed as being pregnant with twins! We recommend that you bring in your partner and have them look at the ultrasound images with you so you can get the news at the same time.
If you are going through fertility treatments with a reproductive endocrinologist, you may find out that you are pregnant with twins earlier. After your treatment ends, your doctor will order a blood test for hCG levels. A quantitative hCG test is more sensitive and will pick up lower levels of hCG in your body than what can be detected by an early pregnancy test kit. If the results come back positive, youll be scheduled for a second blood test a few days later to ensure the numbers are rising appropriately. If the numbers are rising, youll be scheduled for a vaginal ultrasound within a week or two and at that appointment, your doctor will be able to see if youre having twins.
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You Have Elevated Hcg Or Afp Levels
Early in pregnancy, doctors or midwives may perform common screenings to check hCG levels, a hormone produced during pregnancy. If the levels are high or accelerated, it may indicate a multiple pregnancy.
An AFP screening occurs later in pregnancy and tests for the proclivity of chromosomal abnormalities or birth defects. This type of testing may be referred to as maternal serum screening, triple screen, quad screen or penta screen.
Based on the screening result, doctors may recommend further testing. An abnormally high result could be caused by the presence of multiple babies such as twins.
In either case, unexpected results are cause for further investigation, which could confirm the presence of twins.
What Are The Different Types Of Twins
Twins are either fraternal or identical.
- Fraternal twins occur when two sperm fertilize two eggs in one cycle. This results in a separate placenta for each baby. Fraternal twin DNA is like that of siblings of different ages. They may be the same or of different sex.
- Identical twins happen when a single embryo from one egg and one sperm divide in two. The twins may share one or have separate placentas. Identical twins are always of the same sex.
Conjoined twins are extremely rare and occur when an identical twin embryo does not fully divide. The babies bodies are fused and may share vital organs. Common points of fusion are the chest or abdomen. This can result in a shared liver or heart.
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Does Family History Increase Your Chances Of Having Twins
If both you and your partner have a history of multiples in the family, your chances of conceiving twins is higher. This is especially true for women who have fraternal twins in their family. Thats because theyre more likely to have inherited the gene that makes them release more than one egg at a time.
According to The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, women who are fraternal twins themselves have a 1 in 60 chance of having their own twins. Men who are fraternal twins have a 1 in 125 chance of fathering twins.
No : Risk Of Developing Gestational Diabetes Is Higher In Twin Pregnancies
“The gestational diabetes risk is higher in twin pregnancy,” says Monga. She notes that gestational diabetes can mean having larger babies and needing a C-section delivery — but twins tend not to be big babies. Still, developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy also makes you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life, she says.
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Is Labor And Delivery Significantly Different With Twins
Laboris generally the same whether youre having one baby or two. Duringdelivery is when things differ significantly.
When its time to deliver your twins, you will go to an operating room evenif you are delivering vaginally. This is a safety precaution known as adouble setup. Following the vaginal delivery of the first baby, there is asmall risk of an emergency cesarean section for the second baby. There is also thepossibility of the second twin being delivered breech, which is a safe formof vaginal delivery if the obstetrician is experienced in this type ofdelivery.
Of women giving birth to twins over 32 weeks, only about 4 percent who tryfor a vaginal delivery will have a combined vaginal and cesarean section delivery.While it doesnt happen very often, by delivering both babies in theoperating room, physicians are better prepared to protect the health of themother and the babies.
Although being pregnant with twins can seem very different, your doctorwill treat your pregnancy like any other unless a complication occurs.
Pregnant With Twins: What To Expect
Learning youre pregnant with twins likely causes a rush of emotions. Some women are excited about the prospect of twins double the cuteness and baby snuggles! Others may feel a little uncertain or even overwhelmed. After all, there are two babies rather than just one. Not to mention, twin pregnancies come with added risk compared to a typical single-baby pregnancy .
Lets look at how twin pregnancies differ from single-baby pregnancies, from conception to birth.
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Your Twin Pregnancy In The Second Trimester
Twin pregnancy symptoms, when tracked week by week, arenât too different from those in a singleton pregnancy. However, twin moms-to-be usually show their bumps sooner, and during the second trimester, it will become increasingly obvious that youâre pregnant with twins. You might also feel more uncomfortable and tired than singleton moms during this time or gain more weight, which is completely normalâafter all, your body is a nourishing home to two developing babies!Read on to learn about twin pregnancy development and symptoms, week by week during the second trimester.
So What Are The Signs Youre Having Twins
There are a lot of classic symptoms for twins, which are all generally down to the increased levels of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Hormone, or hCG, which is the pregnancy hormone that causes all of the wonderful changes that come with falling pregnant.
A lot of twin pregnancy symptoms are actually the same as for regular pregnancies, just stronger, or more than youd expect for someone as far along as you might be, so if this is your first time, just go with it and wait for your scans to confirm what you might already suspect.
As you read down this list, remember that pregnancy affects every woman differently, and you might experience some, all or even none of the below symptoms as you go through the different stages.
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Earliest Signs Of Expecting Twins
According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are other ways in your first trimester to determine whether a woman is expecting twins or not, for example, her hCG hormone levels will be higher than a woman expecting a single baby and should a doula or health practitioner chose to listen to the baby’s heartbeat they will hear two heartbeats instead of one. Both of these theories should be tested with a blood test or an ultrasound because in some cases the readings could be off. It is common for an expectant mom to hear heartbeats all over her abdomen which can falsely determine that she is indeed carrying twins.
During the first trimester, most pregnant women experience heavy morning sickness or nausea, it has been said that women who are expecting multiples can also experience extreme morning sickness. However, like all symptoms, it cannot guarantee that she is expecting twins. For example, there are women who experience extreme morning sickness throughout their pregnancy and the medical diagnosis for that is hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition that causes extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy and can make the expectant mom feel miserable. Also, in the first trimester, a woman carrying twins may also experience extreme fatigue and hunger, causing rapid weight gain. There are many factors that can contribute to this such as stress and emotional eating such as binge eating.
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