During the course of pregnancy, a woman might wonder if she is carrying more than one baby. A woman who thinks she is pregnant with twins should discuss this possibility with her obstetrician. This is especially true if you have a family history of twins, are of an advanced age, taking fertility medications, are African American, tall and heavy, or have been pregnant previously. All of these factors point to an increased chance of twins. Generally, twins are diagnosed using ultrasound.
Common Signs
As is the case with a singleton pregnancy, the first sign of a twin pregnancy is usually a missed period and a positive pregnancy test. Morning sickness, backache, fatigue, frequent urination, breast tenderness, mood swings and food aversions or cravings are all possible. While many signs of a pregnancy with multiples are the same as those of carrying a single baby, the symptoms in a pregnancy with multiples may be more pronounced.
Rapid Weight Gain
Because your body must accommodate two babies instead of one, your abdomen will expand more rapidly with twins than if you were only carrying one child. In fact, you may have to begin wearing maternity clothes as early as eight weeks if you are pregnant with twins. The fundal height, usually measured at each prenatal visit, will be larger for the gestational age than in a singleton pregnancy. The fundal height is a measurement from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus.
Two Heartbeats
Often, a medical practitioner can hear two separate fetal heartbeats as early as 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, according to Pregnancy-Info.net. In some twin pregnancies, however, it may be difficult for a doctor to determine if there are two independent heartbeats. When this occurs, an ultrasound is usually ordered to confirm the diagnosis of twins.
Abnormal Test Results
Hormone levels in a twin pregnancy are more elevated than in a singleton pregnancy. The Hcg levels in a woman pregnant with twins or other multiples will be higher than with a single baby. If you have an Alpha-feto protein test, the result will also be higher.
