A twin pregnancy is when there are two fetuses in the uterus at the same time.
Twins develop at the same rate as single fetuses until thethird trimester, when growth slows.
Jill Lehmann Photography / Getty Images
How Do Twins Develop?
Jill Lehmann Photography / Getty Images
There are two types of twin pregnancies:
Identical twins are less common than fraternal twins.
What Increases Your Chance of Conceiving Twins?
Your belly may also grow much faster than it would if you were only carrying one fetus.
Is it possible to have twins without morning sickness?
A twin pregnancy is often discovered during the first ultrasound.
This is the most reliable way to confirm you’re carrying twins.
Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is critical during pregnancy.
They will calculate how many weeks pregnant you are and set a due date for the babies.
Most people will also undergo a first ultrasound to check fetal heartbeat and anatomy.
They may also order bloodwork to check for genetic abnormalities.
You may be offered a blood test that will reveal the sex of the fetuses.
Is pregnancy with twins harder?
Risks and Complications
Carrying two babies is more taxing on your body than a single pregnancy.
A number of risks are associated with twin pregnancies, and a number of complications may occur.
The following are the most prevalent.
C-section deliveries entail a surgical cut across the lower abdomen to remove a baby from the uterus.
However, twins are frequently delivered vaginally depending on factors relating to the presentation and gestation of the babies.
Twins can be either identical or fraternal.
March of Dimes.Being pregnant with twins, triplets and other multiples.
American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Multiple pregnancy and birth: Twins, triplets, and high-order multiples.
National Library of Medicine.Prenatal care in your first trimester.
March of Dimes.Prenatal care checkups.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Multiple pregnancy.
Filipecka-Tyczka D, Jakiel G, Kajdy A, Rabijewski M.Is growth restriction in twin pregnancies a double challenge?
- A narrative review.J Mother Child.
2021;24(4):24-30. doi:10.34763/jmotherandchild.20202404.d-20-00016
Stanford Children’s Health.Low birth weight.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Gestational diabetes.
2023;15(10):e46514.
2012;91(4):463-469. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01356.x
National Health Services.Risks - Caesarean section.