Early Signs of Twins in Pregnancy
Summary: For most moms, the early stages of pregnancy are full of wonder and awe. Those feelings tend to increase dramatically when the mother-to-be suspects that she is having twins.

For most moms, the early stages of pregnancy are full of wonder and awe. Those feelings tend to increase dramatically when the mother-to-be suspects that she is having twins. The odds of carrying twins are pretty good nowadays. In the last few decades, the chance of having twins has increased nearly 60 percent. This is largely due to the increased use of fertility treatments. A 2004 study by the National Center for Health statistics stated that on average slightly over 32 sets of twins are born per 1000 pregnancies. The odds of carrying twins are influenced by several factors.

A mother’s chance of having twins increases under some circumstances. Age definitely plays a role in having twins. The greater the maternal age, the more likely twins will occur. A mother that is 45 years old is likely to have twins; one who is 50 years old actually has a 1 in 9 chance according to some statistics. Where a mother lives can influence the odds as well; some states consistently have higher incidences of twins – as much as 25% higher than the national average. Fertility treatments increase the odds as well, but statistics seem to vary quite a bit concerning the actual rate of increase. Some statistics say certain fertility treatments create a 1 in 5 chance, while others state a 1 in 38 chance. A combination of factors changes the odds.

A mother’s genetic make-up can raise her chances of having twins. Some women carry a gene for hyper-ovulation, which causes multiple eggs to be released during each cycle of ovulation. If you, your mother, or your mother’s mother had fraternal twins, then you are more likely to as well; the hyper-ovulation gene is hereditary. Similarly, if you have already had one pair of fraternal twins, your chances increase for having another set. A study conducted by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has shown that women who are tall or overweight are much more likely to have twins.

Just as there are factors that increase a mother’s chance of having twins, there are factors that reduce the odds as well. A study published by the National Center for Health Statistics stated that Hispanic and Asian women are much less likely to carry twins than white or black women. A low maternal age of 25 years or less also reduces the odds for twins. Women in Hawaii consistently have lower rates of twin pregnancies than do other states. The chance of having identical twins is much less than the chance of carrying fraternal twins.

How can you tell in early pregnancy if you are having twins?

Many women just know. Some women have very strong intuition, while others just know their body really well. Whatever the case may be, women that suspect they are having twins are often correct. Women carrying twins can be subject to exaggerated symptoms due to the extra hormones being produced in their body. They can feel extremely fatigued, nauseous, and have increased aches and pains. Carrying twins usually increases water retention, in a mom-to-be, compared to carrying one child. Pregnant women may have elevated levels of the hormone hCG. This is the hormone used to indicate a positive pregnancy test; the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increases until around week 10 of the pregnancy. Levels vary quite a bit between pregnant women, so a high level of hCG alone does not confirm twins. Abnormal results of the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test can result from a twin pregnancy. AFP levels will increase with each child during pregnancy. If elevated levels of AFP are confirmed, then a physician will order an ultrasound to determine if the mother is carrying multiples. An ultrasound is the best method of determining whether a woman is carrying twins or not. Ultrasounds are quick, easy, and painless. A sonographer will use high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to obtain a relatively clear image of the womb, embryo, and gestational sac. If a woman is carrying twins, then the ultrasound will show two embryos. Ultrasounds can detect twins as early as five weeks of gestation. A Doppler can potentially be used to determine twins as well. This can be a little tricky though depending on where the babies are situated. If they are too close together, it can be difficult to determine if the heartbeats are coming from different sources. Your health care provider can generally determine if you are carrying multiples by 10 weeks of gestation with a Doppler.

A woman’s body may offer clues that twins are the horizon. Women carrying twins often gain weight faster than women carrying a singleton. Weight gain varies quite a bit between women, so weight gain alone is not the best indicator. However, the mom-to-be will have a larger uterus measurement. Health care providers routinely measure a pregnant woman’s uterus to determine that a baby is growing at an expected rate. A large for gestational age uterus often results from carrying multiple twins. Though the uterus can measure large for gestational age when a mother has had multiple pregnancies. Fetal movement can provide early detection of twins in pregnancy. Some women with twins feel flutters and flips earlier in the pregnancy than do women with singletons. In later stages of pregnancy, a mom can really feel the difference between carrying two children versus one child. The babies’ kicks and movements often come from separate parts of the womb, which makes it obvious that one baby alone could not be causing all of the movement.