| If your pregnancy symptoms are earlier and | | | | to 12 weeks to your obstetrician. This may |
| more pronounced than you'd normally expect, | | | | prompt a request for an ultrasound |
| you may be carrying a twin pregnancy. | | | | examination. 6. You are told that you have |
| However, only a health professional can tell | | | | elevated levels of AFP. AFP is one of the |
| for sure. 1. You just feel that you are | | | | chemicals tested to screen for Down's |
| carrying more than one baby. Some mothers of | | | | syndrome and spina bifida abnormalities. AFP |
| twins (or higher order multiples) say that | | | | levels are higher in twin pregnancies. 7. |
| they knew right from the start that they were | | | | Your health care provider hears two fetal |
| carrying more than one baby. 2. You | | | | heartbeats. Two separate heartbeats can be |
| experience more nausea and/or morning | | | | distinguishable with a Doppler in your care |
| sickness. If you are having more than one | | | | provider's office from around 18 weeks. At |
| baby, you may have an elevated hCG level (hCG | | | | around 28 weeks, it may be possible to |
| is a pregnancy related hormone). This hormone | | | | differentiate two fetal heads and multiple |
| is the one associated with morning sickness. | | | | small parts when doing an abdominal exam. 8. |
| 3. Other typical pregnancy symptoms may be | | | | You have a positive ultrasound. If you |
| exaggerated. Many women -- but not all -- who | | | | believe you are pregnant with twins, an |
| are pregnant with twins have more intense | | | | ultrasound can be performed quite early in |
| pregnancy symptoms, probably related to the | | | | pregnancy. With a skilled ultrasonographer, |
| extra hormones circulating through their | | | | two gestational sacs, two embryos and two |
| system. You may find that your breasts are | | | | distinct fetal heartbeats can be seen six |
| extremely tender, you have to urinate | | | | weeks after the first day of the last |
| frequently, you are hungry all the time and | | | | menstrual period. Many twins have been |
| you are always very tired. 4. A higher than | | | | diagnosed as early as five weeks -- when |
| average weight gain in the first 16 weeks may | | | | you're just one week late for your menstrual |
| be your first clue that you're carrying more | | | | period. 9. In later pregnancy, you may |
| than one baby. Good weight gain in early twin | | | | experience difficulty catching your breath, |
| pregnancy is associated with a favourable | | | | swelling (oedema) of the hands and legs, an |
| outcome. With each additional fetus a woman | | | | unusual rate of weight gain and abdominal |
| carries, the range of weight gain will | | | | enlargement and excessive fetal movement. |
| increase. For example, a woman who starts a | | | | Anaemia or low iron (decreased haemoglobin) |
| pregnancy in a healthy weight range might | | | | is also common with twin and multiple |
| expect her weight gain to be as follows: One | | | | pregnancies. 10. There is considerable |
| fetus, 11 kg (24 lb) to 16 kg (35 lb) Twins, | | | | disagreement among medical professionals as |
| 16 kg (35 lb) to 20 kg (44 lb) Triplets, 20 | | | | to whether a woman carrying twins is more |
| kg (44 lb) to 23 kg (51 lb) Quads, 23 kg (51 | | | | likely to feel movement earlier. But many |
| lb) to 25 kg (55 lb) 5. Your uterus seems | | | | mothers do claim that those early flutters |
| large for gestational age. If your last | | | | and flips were their first clue that they |
| menstrual period indicates an eight-week | | | | might be having more than one. |
| gestation, your uterus may feel more like 10 | | | | |