Am I Pregnant with Twins?

We all know, as a woman conceives, her body undergoes various hormonal changes which result in pregnancy symptoms like missed period, morning sickness, mood swings, change in appetite, raised body temperature, breast tenderness and so on. These early signs of pregnancy happen to nearly every woman during her pregnancy, but some change in these symptoms or any other indications can raise a sneaking suspicion in her mind. However, the thought of conceiving twins or multiples can be fascinating for some people while for others it can be a bit intimidating.

Twins or multiple pregnancies usually occur when multiple eggs are released by the ovaries or if a woman has more than one ovulation. Hence, when both or more eggs get fertilized a woman has fraternal twins while if one egg is released and it splits in to two, identical twins are formed. Studies show that one of the major reason for twins or multiple pregnancies is the increased use of fertility drugs or some fertility treatment like IVF, wherein three or more fertilized eggs are inserted in to the uterus. However, until one undergoes a pregnancy test for twins it is difficult to determine whether a woman is pregnant with twins or not, hence, below given are some common symptoms or signs of twins or multiple pregnancies that can help clear your doubts.

Early Signs of Pregnancy With Twins

Though many people come to know about their twins or multiples at an early ultrasound due to the presence of two gestational sacs, here are a few signs of pregnancy in twins that can help you to determine if you are pregnant with twins or not.

Increased Appetite: The first sign a woman carrying twins may notice is increase in appetite, especially during the second trimester. As you are carrying two babies your body's food and energy requirements increase. Hence, you should be having about one and half times more calories than a woman carrying a single baby. But ensure that you do not overeat, and so listen to your body and eat accordingly.

Frequent Urination: Another common complaint most women have during their pregnancy is frequent urination. The condition in more prevalent in women having twins as the uterus expands more and there is more pressure on the bladder. This reduces the ability to hold urine, as a result there is an increase in the urine frequency.

Excessive Morning Sickness: Studies show most women having twins experience excessive morning sickness, vomiting and nausea in comparison to women carrying single baby. Though enhanced morning sickness can be a probable sign of multiple pregnancies or pregnancy with twins, if the condition is uncontrollable do consult your doctor.

Early Fetal Movement: Some reports show that women having twins or multiples experience frequent and early fetal movement inside the womb. Though many medical professionals disagree on this point, some women having multiples claim to recognize these feelings of movement inside the womb quite early during their pregnancy.

Weight Gain: Though weight gain is one of the most common sign of pregnancy, women with twins or multiples usually gain more weight than women carrying single baby. In fact studies show that women with twins gain about 10 lbs. more than other women.

Besides these signs, heart burn, excessive breast tenderness, nosebleeds and stuffiness, exhaustion or being very tired are some other signs of pregnancy with twins. However, in order to ascertain your chances of having twins instead of relying on these symptoms it is always better to consult your doctor who through various pregnancy tests for twins will monitor your hCG levels and fetal heart sounds and then confirm whether you are having one or more babies.