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