Twin Pregnancy FAQs
Finding out that you are pregnant with twins is exciting but also quite overwhelming. Because twin pregnancies carry extra risks and precautions, you likely have a lot of questions.
What is different about a twin pregnancy?
The experience of a twin pregnancy can be very different for some women. In some cases, women pregnant with twins experience increased pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, or edema (swelling). A woman who is pregnant with twins is at increased risk for some medical complications, such as preterm labor, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), and gestational diabetes.
What are the signs of twin pregnancy?
While some women report drastic differences in a twin pregnancy, others report no differences with a single pregnancy. Some of the most common indicators of multiple births are weight gain, which measures large for gestational age, severe morning sickness, early detection of fetal movement, abnormally high results on an AFP or triple test, extreme fatigue, and elevated levels of HcG.
How do I know if I am having twins?
Ultrasound remains the most reliable way to detect and monitor a multiple pregnancy. The routine use of ultrasound in prenatal care has reduced the number of surprise appearances of twins in the delivery room; most multiples are discovered during the first half of pregnancy. If you have a hunch or suspect that you are pregnant with twins or more, discuss your feelings with your doctor.
Will I have to get bed rest?
Bed rest is prescribed in multiple pregnancy as a preventive and precautionary tool. It can provide benefits for both mother and babies, prolonging a pregnancy in danger of premature labor for a woman whose body is under stress. In 1992, a survey by the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs showed that 70 percent of women expecting multiple births experienced bed rest at some point in their pregnancy. However, times have changed and doctors have become less rigid in sentencing women to bed.
Can there be a hidden twin?
Almost all pregnant women consider the possibility that they are pregnant with more than one baby. The only way to confirm a twin or multiple pregnancy is by visually identifying multiple fetuses with an ultrasound. If your doctor or caregiver can only see one baby, you will not have twins or multiples. There are some very rare exceptions. Ultrasound provides an image of the uterus, but sometimes the image can be misleading or misinterpreted, especially if performed very early in pregnancy or by an incompetent technician. At twenty weeks, a second fetus would be clearly visible on ultrasound, and the likelihood of another baby hidden in the womb is extremely small.
What is missing twin syndrome?
Missing twin syndrome occurs when one of a group of twin fetuses apparently disappears from the uterus during pregnancy, usually resulting in a normal single pregnancy. One of the fetuses of a twin pregnancy miscarries, usually during the first trimester; fetal tissue is absorbed by the other twin, the placenta, or the mother, thus giving the appearance that the twin “disappeared.” In recent years, the improved use of ultrasound in early pregnancy has increased the frequency of twin pregnancy diagnosis. As a result, there has been an increased awareness of missing twin syndrome.
How much weight will I gain?
Women are always concerned about how much weight they will gain with a single or multiple pregnancy. Now that you are having twins, the idea of additional weight gain seems scary. Generally, a healthy pregnancy requires a woman to gain 25 to 30 pounds during the nine-month gestation period, depending on her body type. But that’s only for a baby. Like everything related to having multiples, more is required. Doctors’ recommendations vary, but most women tend to gain between 35 and 45 pounds during a twin pregnancy, with about an additional 10 pounds for each additional baby in a higher-order multiple pregnancy. However, this is just a guide, so be sure to talk to your doctor about what is appropriate for your body type.
What is the typical gestation of a twin pregnancy?
Generally, twins and other multiples are born earlier than only children. Research from the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs (NOMOTC) indicates that approximately half of multiples are born before 36 weeks gestation. There is no way of knowing exactly when your babies will be born. In some cases, a premature birth cannot be avoided. Some doctors believe that thirty-seven or thirty-eight weeks should be considered full term for twins and will seek to push the babies into labor at that time.
Are my twins identical or fraternal?
This is one of the first things people want to know about a twin pregnancy. Here are some ways to find out if your twins are identical or fraternal:
* If your twins are the same sex, they are identical.
* If your twins have been diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (STT), they are identical. TTS does not affect twin brothers.
* If there is a single shared placenta, your twins are more likely to be identical.
* If your twins have been identified as monoamniotic, they are identical. Only identical twins develop with a single shared amnion.