As a rule, multiple pregnancies are observed in those who performed the artificial insemination (IVF) procedure, or those who were lucky who already had twins or triplets in their family. If you have dreamed so much about twins or triplets, and at least one of these factors has been taken into account, then I want to know about this event as soon as possible. It is for this reason that today we will consider the signs of twins in early pregnancy.
The doctor will be able to please you with this news only after an ultrasound scan, and then, not the first, but already in the second trimester of pregnancy. But in this situation, special medical supervision is needed.
And so, what is a multiple pregnancy and what signs of a twin pregnancy can an expectant mother notice in the early stages? This is the gestation of two, three, four or more babies in the womb. We immediately note the statistics: in Europe, the rate of multiple pregnancy has now increased to 1% under the influence of IVF. At the moment, 1 out of 89 pregnancies is multiple.
Early signs
To begin with, in this section we will list the conditions that increase the chances of several babies being born at once. These include:
- Age from 35 years (this is a scientifically proven fact, the whole point is that with age, there is an increase in the hormonal background, which is responsible for the maturation of the eggs).
- Genetic factor (if the family already had such cases, then the chance of becoming a happy mother of several babies at once increases).
- Malfunction of the ovaries (approximately once in 200 menstrual cycles, a malfunction occurs - 2 eggs mature immediately).
- In Vitro Fertilization (for a greater likelihood of a successful outcome of the procedure, several fertilized eggs are planted at once for a woman).
- Stimulation with the help of some drugs (they enhance the work of the ovaries, and 2 eggs are formed and mature at once).
- Refusal from OK - oral contraceptives (during reception, a hormonal background is created, as during pregnancy and the ovaries relax, and refusal to take contributes to the increased work of this body).
- A large family (the more a woman gave birth to children, the greater the chance of giving birth to twins).
- Men in the Middle East and Africa are more likely to "do" twins (ethnicity).
- The duration of the menstrual cycle, which is 21 days, contributes to the appearance of multiple pregnancy.
- Two-horned uterus (this pathology of the organ leads to the formation of two eggs at once).
The classic version of pregnancy is the bearing of 1 fetus. But the bearing of several children creates an additional burden on the woman's body. For this reason, every expectant mother should know the signs of twins in the early stages. These include the following:
- genetics (note that the rebirth of twins or triplets is possible through generation);
- on the test that women conduct at home, the second strip will be very clear and greasy, indicating a high level of hCG;
- very severe drowsiness;
- severe toxicosis;
- the appearance of acne is possible, which becomes possible due to the large amount of hormone production;
- rapid growth of the abdomen;
- early and active movements.
Medical confirmation of multiple pregnancy
The above signs of twins, which Mom herself can note even before visiting the gynecologist, are not always easily tolerated by a woman. If you notice these signs, then notify your doctor about this.
Here are the signs that a gynecologist can notice with a multiple pregnancy:
- horizontal furrow dividing babies;
- deepening of the bottom of the uterus;
- detection of 4 large parts during palpation of the abdomen (two heads and two pelvis);
- Ultrasound at 12 weeks of gestation;
- phonoelectrocardiography (beating of two hearts at once is noted);
- when listening, there is a beating of the heart in different places;
- the AFP test in the second trimester of pregnancy is not just positive, but rather high (a test to detect abnormal fetal phenomena).
Fatigue
Above, we identified a number of signs of twins in the early stages that the future mother herself can detect, now we will talk about them in more detail. Let's start with increased fatigue. It is important to note that the future mothers of twins, triplets and so on sleep literally on the go (sitting, standing, lying). This can be seen even at the stage when they do not even know about their pregnancy (that is, from the first day of fertilization).
During pregnancy, lethargy, fatigue and drowsiness, especially in the first trimester, are normal, but with multiple pregnancies they literally double.
If a woman is already expecting not the first child, then she will easily feel the difference, but her condition is not always clear to the primiparous. How easy is it to recognize twins on this basis? If you have a pregnant girlfriend, fatigue is visible on her, but she still flutters, enjoys life, and so on, and for you to get to work is a real feat, then most likely you are waiting for twins. However, it is worthwhile to exclude many more factors contributing to severe fatigue:
- stress;
- poor nutrition;
- heavy workload at work and so on.
Morning sickness
Another sign of twins is morning sickness. Please note that this will not necessarily be severe nausea or vomiting with a vengeance, it is possible just a breakdown that occurs in the middle of the day.
As for toxicosis, it is worth remembering that each organism is individual. Some happy mothers of twins and triplets felt wonderful during pregnancy. And those who are expecting one baby may experience very strong discomfort due to severe toxicosis. If you feel great, this is not an indication that you are carrying only one baby in the womb.
Do not forget about female intuition, which is greatly exacerbated during pregnancy. The expectant mother herself can feel how many children she has and what gender they are.
Stirring
Another sign of twin pregnancy is early movements. As a rule, the mother for the first time feels how her baby moves only in the nineteenth week. If you have a second or more pregnancy, then it is possible to feel the tremors as early as the sixteenth week.
Often, women who are expecting two or more babies have earlier and more intense movements. In addition, with multiple pregnancy, there is a mismatch between the size of the uterus and the period of delay in menstruation. Already at a later date, the doctor, when palpating and listening to the tummy, will be able to determine the number of babies. Pay attention to the fact that the movements during multiple pregnancy do not differ at all from those that mothers feel when carrying one baby.
HCG
When you do a pregnancy test, it is human chorionic gonadotropin that notifies you of an "interesting" position. After you have been registered with a gynecologist (starting from the tenth day from the date of fertilization), the doctor constantly, throughout pregnancy, monitors the level of this hormone. One of the most common signs of twins is a high level of hCG.
In addition, mothers who wait for twins gain about five kilograms more in weight than women who are pregnant with one baby. However, pay attention to the fact that this is not the only factor affecting weight gain. Pay attention to your nutrition, in this position it is better not to overeat. Eat less, but more often, and be sure to monitor your diet, because now the baby’s well-being also depends on it.
Gestational age
Another sign of twins in early pregnancy is a high rate of gestational age. What it is? When you visit your gynecologist, he always measures the distance between the upper part of the uterus and the top of the pubis. This is necessary to determine the gestational age of the child.
If you have a multiple pregnancy, then the uterus expands more, therefore, the rate increases. But, do not forget that this is not the only reason for this phenomenon. That is why it is necessary to regularly visit your doctor.
AFP
How else can a multiple pregnancy be recognized without an ultrasound? We considered a lot of signs of twins in the article, but the AFP test went unnoticed. It is done in order to detect birth defects in a child. Do not be alarmed if the result is high enough or positive, this often happens with multiple pregnancy. An ultrasound scan is required to confirm the result.
Please note that twins are not always visible on the first ultrasound scan. Although there were many cases when a multiple pregnancy was detected at the sixth week. At week 22, it is already more likely that a doctor will find several babies at an ultrasound scan. An error on such a term occurs only if the mother expects five or more children.
Multiple Pregnancy Risks
We examined in detail the first signs of twins, which mom herself can notice without consulting experts. Now we turn to the question of why, especially with multiple pregnancy, you should definitely visit your doctor regularly?
Risks are directly dependent on the relationship between the membranes, the placenta, and the twins. Every third multiple pregnancy is monochorionic (babies share one placenta). Among them:
- more than 30% - dichoric-diamniotic (two umbilical cords, thick septum between the children);
- more than 60% - monochorionic-diamniotic (thin septum);
- 2% - monochorionic-monoamniotic (common fetal bladder and placenta).
In the first case, the risks are minimal if the first child has a head presentation. This case does not require special medical supervision. With monochorio-diamniotic pregnancy with twins, there is a chance of developing feto-fetal transfusion syndrome. Mom is recommended to undergo control examinations twice a month. The most serious and dangerous case is the third. Here, the kids run the risk of growing together parts of the body (Siamese twins) or entwined with umbilical cords. It is often necessary to carry out ultrasound examinations, and during childbirth a cesarean section is necessary.
Features of the course of pregnancy
If you listen to the recommendations that the attending physician gives, then you will spend this time no less happily than women waiting for one child. Since during a multiple pregnancy a double load immediately lays on the mother’s body, the doctors give you closer attention.
When you wait for two or more crumbs, the probability of termination of pregnancy or premature discharge of amniotic fluid is high. This is especially true in recent months. Do not overwork, do not do heavy physical work. Some are recommended bed rest or hospitalization.
As a rule, twins are born earlier (at 36 or 38 weeks). Their weight is less than that of other children, however, they are characterized by increased adaptability. The weight and circumference of the abdomen will be slightly larger than that of women expecting one child.
Be sure to monitor your diet, consult your doctor about taking vitamins and mineral complexes. With multiple pregnancy, the body can quickly exhaust its reserves.