Signs and Symptoms of a Twin or Multiple Pregnancy

Many women wonder, at some point during their pregnancy, if it's possible they're having twins or even multiples. Twins occur in about 3 out of every 100 births, and triplets in about 1 out of every 8,100 births. Naturally occurring quadruplets, quintuplets, and so on are extremely rare. Your chances of having twins or multiples increase if you have a family history of fraternal twins or more, but not if your husband's family has such a history. Your chances are also increased if you are over 45 or have been undergoing fertility treatments to become pregnant. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of a twin or multiple pregnancy.

Physical Signs

These signs are subjective and do not always indicate a twin or multiple pregnancy. If you experience any of these symptoms tell your doctor or midwife and they can follow up on your suspicions.

Severe Morning Sickness

This sign isn't always accurate, as many moms of singleton pregnancies have severe morning sickness as well. It is also hard for a first time mom to be able to tell if she's having severe morning sickness, as she has no previous pregnancies to compare it to. Nevertheless, this is one symptom of a twin or multiple pregnancy.

Extreme Fatigue

Fatigue is a symptom all pregnant women experience, especially during the first 3 and last 3 months of pregnancy. However, a woman having twins (or more) will experience even more fatigue. Her body is working all the more harder to take care of two or more babies. This sign is another sign that is hard to pick up on unless you've had a previous pregnancy to compare to.

Abdomen Size

A woman who is having a twin pregnancy will find her belly growing at a faster rate than a mom with a single pregnancy. This sign, like many of the other physical signs, is not a very accurate reason to think you are having twins. Every woman carries her baby differently, so some may look very big just because of the way the baby is laying in the uterus. Also during a second, third and further pregnancy, a woman's uterus grows at a faster rate because it has already been stretched out before.

Fetal Movement

Women pregnant with twins often find that they feel movement earlier than usual. Excessive fetal movement is also a sign of a twin or multiple pregnancy, though not always. If you feel your baby (or suspected babies) moving from many directions at once, you can express your suspicion to your doctor. However, it could just be a very active single baby.

Tests That Indicate a Twin or Multiple Pregnancy

Some tests that are routinely performed during pregnancy can determine whether or not you are having twins or multiples.

Blood Test

This sign is more definite than many of the physical signs of a twin or multiple pregnancy. If your hCG levels are
higher than normal, your doctor or midwife may suspect a twin pregnancy. Another indicator of a twin or multiple pregnancy is elevated alpha fetoprotein levels.

More Than One Heartbeat

Around 9 weeks of pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will be able to hear your baby's heartbeat by using a Doppler. If both babies are in the right position, you may be able to hear two (or more) heartbeats. This is an accurate indicator of a twin or multiple pregnancy, although both heartbeats will not always be easy to find, and thus the discovery of only one heartbeat does not rule out twins.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound is usually the only sure way (besides birth!) to determine a twin or multiple pregnancy. However, even this method is not foolproof, as one of the babies could be hard to find because of its position.

References

About: Is It Twins? 10 Signs That You're Having Twins or Multiples

About: What Are the Odds?