The characteristics of being pregnant with twins are not just a big belly, here are 5 other signs

A large stomach size during pregnancy is often interpreted as a characteristic of a mother pregnant with twins. In fact, these characteristics of pregnancy cannot be seen easily with the naked eye. There are other signs to look for to make sure you are having multiple pregnancies.

The characteristics of twin pregnancy that need to be known

Every woman has different signs of being pregnant with twins. But in general, there are some signs that often appear when a woman is pregnant with twins.

1. The hCG hormone is higher

Human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta after the embryo attaches to the uterine wall.

This hormone causes a positive result when you perform a pregnancy check with urine.

However, the increase in this hormone does not always mean that there are twins in the womb.

This is because the production of this hormone varies from woman to woman and can increase due to other factors.

Even ordinary urine tests cannot be used to find out how much hCG is in the body. You will need to have a blood test to find out the amount of hCG.

Follow-up checks also need to be done to make sure that you are having multiple pregnancies.

2. A double heartbeat is heard

The fetal heartbeat can be heard at the end of the first trimester. To detect it, doctors use a device called a Doppler.

Quoting from American Pregnancy, double-sounding heartbeats are usually a feature of pregnant twins.

Even so, a double heart rate was obtained from doppler cannot be used as an absolute marker of multiple pregnancy.

This is because the second heartbeat that occurs can come from the mother's heart or be an echo of the baby's heartbeat.

3. Morning sickness which is more severe

Some pregnant women experience morning sickness which is caused by a surge in various hormones during pregnancy.

Based on a study entitled Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy, women who are pregnant with twins experience a twofold increase in hormones so that the symptoms morning sickness getting worse.

However, this again cannot be the only characteristic of getting pregnant with twins because not all women experience it morning sickness .

Other than that, morning sickness severe common pregnancy can also result from a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.

4. Greater fundal height

The fundus is the distance between the top of the pubic bone and the top of the uterus measured during pregnancy.

Fundal height increases with weight gain and gestational age so that it is used as an indicator of fetal health.

Women who are pregnant with twins will have the characteristics of a larger fetal weight. The uterus is stretched further so that the two fetuses have enough space.

As a result, women who are pregnant with twins will have a greater fundal height than a normal pregnancy.

5. Abnormal AFP test results

Quoting from Stanford Children's, Alpha fetoprotein or AFP is a type of serum found during pregnancy. AFP monitoring was performed in the second trimester.

The aim is to determine the amount of a special protein produced by the fetal liver and detect any defects in the fetus.

In addition, the AFP test can also show pregnancy in more than one fetus. A positive AFP count or higher than normal values ​​can indicate that you are carrying two or more fetuses.

6. Weight gain during early pregnancy

There are many factors that cause a pregnant woman to gain weight. The most common factor is improper eating habits.

However, quoting from American Pregnancy, on average, pregnant women with twins are characterized by an initial weight gain of about 4.5 kilograms during the first trimester.

This is due to the size of the uterus and higher blood volume compared to mothers who are pregnant with one baby.

Even when entering the second trimester, body weight can double every month.

7. Twin fetuses seen on ultrasound examination

Multiple pregnancies can be seen on ultrasound at 5 weeks of age. You will see two fetal sacs that will be the place for the baby to grow for 9 months.

8. Tiring more easily

Mothers who are pregnant with twins are characterized more easily because they share nutrients with more than one fetus.

It is not enough to distinguish multiple pregnancies from ordinary pregnancies by looking at the size of the mother's stomach during pregnancy.

There are other indicators that need to be tested more deeply, for example an ultrasound examination, to determine whether the characteristics you are experiencing indicate that you are pregnant with twins.

Pregnant twins or not, the most important thing is to fulfill the nutritional needs of the mother and the fetus optimally. Adequate nutrition is not only important for health, but also for preventing various pregnancy complications.

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