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