Pregnant with Twins

Kinds of Twins

There are two types of twins: Monozygotic and Dizygotic.

• Monozygotic twins are identical twins. These are twins whose DNA is exactly the same. Identical twins happen when one fertilized egg splits, around 1-14 days after fertilization. Often identical twins share one placenta with two umbilical cords. At birth they may be different sizes and weights depending on nutrition inside the womb. Identical twins are always the same sex. Experts are still unclear about why identical twins occur. It appears to be completely random, and there are no genetic predispositions has been determined for conceiving twins.
• Dizygotic twins are fraternal twins and the most common. Fraternal twins are twins formed from two separate fertilized eggs. Yes, when you ovulate you can release multiple eggs! Fraternal twins are also the kind of twins seen when fertility attempts are made. Fraternal twins do not have the same DNA and are as similar (or dissimilar) as two siblings might be.

Symptoms of Pregnancy with Twins

Because your body produces more of the pregnancy hormone hCG when you are having twins, you may have more pronounced pregnancy symptoms than if you were pregnant with one baby. You may feel more tired, have worse Morning Sickness, and your abdomen may be larger than it should be based on your due date. You also may be gain more weight and feel your babies' movements earlier than with a singleton pregnancy. There are exceptions though--I had no symptoms of twin pregnancy and no idea I was pregnant with twins until my first ultrasound.

If you decide to have an alpha-fetoprotein test, you will get a positive result. Your doctor will schedule other tests, and if you don’t already know, you’ll quickly find out you’re pregnant with twins!

Prenatal Care When you’re Pregnant with Twins

Expect to have more appointments and tests if you are pregnant with twins. Your doctor will want to see you more frequently. You will probably have more ultrasounds to check on your babies' health, the placental function, and to check for the amounts of amniotic fluid, especially during the last few weeks of pregnancy. You will also have more tests and might be sent to labor and delivery for monitoring, to make sure everything is going well. Be patient and plan on bringing a book to every appointment.

You will be at a much higher risk for premature labor and birth. Your care provider will discuss symptoms with you and what to do if you go into preterm labor. If you notice labor symptoms before 37 weeks, contact your care provider immediately!

During, the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may be restricted to bed rest. Try to keep your spirits up if you’re on bed rest. Keep busy with projects you can do in bed (or on the couch). Invite people to visit and try to remember that it won’t be much longer until you can meet your babies.

Nutrition When you’re Pregnant with Twins

When you’re pregnant with twins, you can expect to need more nutritiously. That doesn’t mean you should eat whatever you want, though you will want to eat about 600 more calories a day. You may be prescribed a prenatal vitamin that you will need to take every day until you stop breastfeeding.

It is doubly important now that you drink lots of water. You need to be taking in at least eight glasses of water a day (64 ounces). To make sure you drink this amount, measure eight glasses of water into a pitcher in the morning and drink it all during the day. Drinking lots of water will help provide enough amniotic fluid for your babies, filter wastes out of your body and prevent pre-term labor.

You will also have to increase your calcium, iron and folic acid intake. Try to split up your calcium and iron intake; too much calcium affects your iron absorption. Most women pregnant with twins become anemic, meaning they develop an iron deficiency. If you’re anemic, your care provider will have suggestions to increase the iron in your diet or will prescribe a supplement.

What Does a Twin Pregnancy Mean at Birth?

You may have a more intervention-prone birth than with singleton babies. You will also be at greater risk for preterm labor and for a cesarean birth.

If you want a natural childbirth with twins, it is still possible, but you will have to work for it.

What if I’m Not Happy About Having Twins?

That is okay. It is scary and upsetting when you find out instead of one baby you’re about to have two. It changes your pregnancy, your birth, your financial expectations, your success at breastfeeding, and possibly your career expectations. You’re about to have double the clothing, double the diaper bills, double the cribs, swings, and other baby paraphernalia.

But having twins is also very special. When you take your twins home from the hospital and see them cuddle together, you’ll realize how worth it being pregnant with twins was. Your twins will have an instant best friend, an instant playmate. They’ll have someone who will understand them completely, someone to create a secret language with, someone who won’t get tired of peek-a-boo and singing inane songs (like we grown-ups can).

If you are truly upset and worried about being pregnant with twins, contact a twin’s support group in your local city. They will help you through your anxieties and have tips on how to get through those first weeks. They will also help you with parenting techniques when your babies are older.

Other Resources

• Mayo Clinic
• March of Dimes
• Baby Center.com