The truth is that while there are several signs of a twin pregnancy, there is also tremendous overlap with the signs of singleton pregnancies. It is impossible to definitively know whether you are carrying twins (or multiple babies) by simply gauging how you feel or going off of what a home pregnancy test shows. In fact, only an ultrasound can confirm a twin or multiple pregnancy. That said, it can be exciting to wonder whether certain signs are subtle clues that you or a loved one may be carrying more than one baby. Let’s take a closer look at these potential hints at multiple babies. Statistically, moms of multiples may experience more morning sickness. But using the degree of morning sickness as an estimate that you are carrying twins isn’t necessarily very helpful. Overall, 70% to 80% of women can experience some amount of nausea and vomiting with pregnancies, and up to 2% reportedly experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of severe morning sickness. At the same time, some moms of twins and triplets say they have no morning sickness. Finally, another potential sign is that in women carrying multiples, nausea may begin quite early, even before a pregnancy test turns positive. Again though this is not a fact, simply an observation. If you are using a regular pregnancy test (not the super-sensitive variety) and get an immediate positive (especially a very dark positive indicator) a few days before your period is due, there may be an increased chance that you are carrying twins. In other words, chances are that an early positive or dark test result simply means you have had less water to drink at the time you took the test. However, blood pregnancy test (hCG level), may give you a better, but still not conclusive hint that you are carrying twins. Beta-hCG is a hormone detectable in pregnant women’s blood or urine about 10 days post-conception. It usually doubles every two to three days, peaking at about eight to 11 weeks into the pregnancy. Regardless, elevated beta-hCG levels in early pregnancy isn’t a proper way to detect twins. One reason is that these levels are not frequently checked unless you are going through fertility treatment. Another issue is that the normal range of hCG can vary widely between different women. For example, levels between 18 mIU/ ml and 7,340 mIU/ml are considered “normal” at five weeks gestation. Finally, in addition to multiples, there are other causes of an elevated beta-hCG level, like a molar pregnancy. And, all of this assumes that your estimated due date is very accurate, which is also uncommon. It’s a real possibility that you may have miscalculated your missed period or when you ovulated. In some cases, the fatigue can be attributed to other factors (work, stress, poor nutrition, having other children), but it can also indicate multiples. The degree of fatigue can, however, be difficult to assess, at least as it relates to twins. We know that fatigue is almost inevitable, even with singletons. Remember, first-time moms don’t have a reference point for a “normal” degree of fatigue. Second-time (and more) mothers may note increased fatigue, but attribute this to the demands of having to care for young children while pregnant. Still, mothers who have had previous pregnancies may note that they are much more tired. A mother’s heartbeat is not usually mistaken for a baby as it is usually only half the rate of the baby’s heart rate. Still, the mother’s heartbeat may create background noise which can make it hard to distinguish the heartbeats of two or more babies. A twin pregnancy can produce an unusually high or “positive” result. Generally your doctor will respond by scheduling an ultrasound for further assessment. A twin or multiple pregnancy may cause the mother’s uterus to expand beyond the range of a single pregnancy. However, other factors may also increase the measurements. This measurement is more difficult earlier in pregnancy than later on, when an ultrasound may have already detected the presence of twins. Of course, there are other reasons why you may be measuring large or “showing larger or sooner” than you expected. If you have been pregnant in the past, you will likely show sooner. When women feel movement in early pregnancy is often inconsistent and can be deceiving. Although many moms of multiples do experience more frequent or earlier fetal movement, there is some disagreement among medical professionals on the subject. For some women, recognizable feelings of movement occur earlier in subsequent pregnancies, whether there is one baby or more. In addition, be aware that what may seem like fetal movement in early pregnancy may actually be gas or an upset stomach. In addition, much of the increase in weight gain occurs later on in pregnancy, often after an ultrasound has already confirmed or excluded a diagnosis of twins or other multiples. Finally, your diet could be a reason why you are gaining too much weight. You may be taking in more calories than you need. Whether mothers-to-be have dreams of twins or a hunch they can’t explain, those who have cared for pregnant women quickly learn to listen. Some of the best “hints” indicating a multiple pregnancy aren’t easily explained in medical textbooks. If you have suspicions that there may be more than one baby, discuss your concerns with your doctor. It’s very unlikely that an ultrasound view would miss an additional baby, especially in the second or third trimester. However, there have been cases of hidden twins. In particular, a “hidden” twin is more likely on an early ultrasound when the babies are identical (monochorionic) twins.
A Word From Verywell
In the end, if you’ve learned you have twins, it’s common to experience a range of emotions from excitement to panic. Be sure to not only discuss your symptoms with your doctor, but also your anxieties, questions, and the risks involved with having a twin (or multiple) pregnancy.
