When tracking pregnancy symptoms week by week, whether with one baby or twins, 5 to 8 weeks pregnant is when nausea and vomiting—aka morning sickness—might kick in. Though the precise cause or causes of this condition are unknown, the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be a contributing factor.
With a twin pregnancy, your body makes high levels of pregnancy hormones. So morning sickness may come on earlier and stronger than if you were carrying a single baby. You may also have earlier and more intense symptoms from pregnancy, like swelling, heartburn, leg cramps, bladder discomfort, and sleep problems.
With second pregnancies and on, around 15% of women reported more morning sickness with multiples than with previous single pregnancies. Finally, another potential sign is that in women carrying multiples, nausea may begin quite early, even before a pregnancy test turns positive.
If you test yourself even earlier than that, it's just as likely that what you measured is simply a normal variation in hormone production. Early positives may mean you have two more babies on the way (which research indicates is more common among women over the age of 35), or they may mean that you have just one.
Don t be surprised if you develop a bit of a 6 weeks pregnant belly. Although your 6 week embryo is still well down in your pelvis, some women, especially those who've been pregnant before, seem to show much earlier. General abdominal distention is usually the cause.
Range of hCG levels and what they can mean
The range for singletons is 5 – 397 and for twins it is 48 – 683. As you can see, there is a big overlap between the first hCG level in singleton and twins. What this means is that even if you have a first hCG level of 397, it could be a singleton pregnancy.
Some symptoms, such as nausea and breast tenderness may be even more intense with a twin pregnancy than with a single pregnancy, if felt this early at all. Some women have reported "having a feeling," or "just knowing" they were pregnant with twins, although this certainly isn't the case for everyone.
As of 2003, there are on average around 16 sets of twins born per 1,000 births in the United States. It is estimated that 1 in 250 natural pregnancies will naturally result in twins.
The symptoms of twin pregnancies are similar to a singleton pregnancy, but there are some notable differences. You may experience more nausea or fatigue and notice some additional symptoms that singleton pregnancies don't typically present.
The consensus is that it depends from woman to woman. There are some who say that they've never suffered from morning sickness, regardless of whether they've had single or twin births; while others will say that it's more when you're expecting twins because your body is preparing for two babies.
Fraternal Twins: This type of twin set is the most common. This occurs when two different eggs are both fertilized by two different sperm and implant themselves into the uterine wall at the same time. Fraternal twins will both have a different amniotic sac and placenta.
They also stated that the greatest concentration of maternal urinary hCG was present from the 6th to the 14th week of pregnancy when nausea and vomiting were mostly encountered.
How soon can you tell you're pregnant with twins? Your doctor won't be able to tell for sure until your first trimester ultrasound, which is usually done between 6 and 9 weeks of pregnancy but can be done any time before week 14.
6 week ultrasound twins
Seeing twins at 6 weeks is definitely possible. The exact time twins can be detected depends on the type of twins, for example, if they're identical (from one egg) or not. At this stage, the presence of two yolk sacs can be seen, and separate heartbeats distinguished.
Your nausea and vomiting may be worse than ever: Morning sickness peaks around 9 or 10 weeks of pregnancy for many women. That's when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest (morning sickness is thought to be linked to rises in hCG and estrogen).
3 WEEKS: Twins implantation
Each baby grows from a separate fertilized egg (zygote). Each has their own placenta and amniotic sac. By 3 weeks, each zygote has developed into a ball of several hundred cells, called a blastocyst, and is burrowing into the uterine lining.
Most miscarriages happen between 6 and 8 weeks gestation. We know that most of these occur due to a major genetic abnormality in the fetus. The sperm and the egg (which are known as gametes) each contain half the genetic material necessary for a complete person.
Early signs of a twin pregnancy include severe morning sickness, quick weight gain, and more breast tenderness. You may also notice an increased appetite or extreme fatigue. Plus, those who have a twin pregnancy may begin showing sooner.
Key Takeaways at 6 Weeks Pregnant
Baby's heartbeat is most likely detectable by ultrasound at this point. If your doctor gives you an ultrasound at that all-important first visit, you'll hopefully be able to see (and hear) that pitter-patter activity.
Tests for hCG are extremely sensitive, and only the smallest concentration of hCG can lead to a pregnancy diagnosis. In a twin pregnancy, there are elevated levels of hCG, making it possible to have a very early positive result.