Q&A: How Does It Feel To Be Pregnant With Twins?
by Melissa Overbey0 Comments
Q This is my second pregnancy, with my first I gained 40lbs but did not show until 4 months. This time I'm only 7 weeks and I' ve gained 5 lbs and 5" just in my belly. It very round and firm.
A First off, Congratulations on your pregnancy! I felt very different and suspected twins early on, around 5-6 weeks. With my first pregnancy (my son) I had only a few episodes of nausea, and by 5 weeks with the girls, I was in a constant state of nausea. I knew and felt something was different. I didn't show with my son until I was at least 3 months pregnant, and by 8 weeks, I couldn't zip my jeans with the girls. That and the exhaustion and morning sickness I was getting, I had a feeling it was twins. I found out when I was 9 weeks pregnant. The doctor did his initial pelvic exam when I was 7 weeks, and wrote on my chart I was 10 weeks. He told me I must have my dates wrong. I knew I had them right, and this was another thing that made me go "hmmm". When he had me come back a week later to use the Doppler to hear baby's heartbeat and he still couldn't find it, he used the ultrasound to see what was going on, and that is when we discovered two babies!
The fact that you have a lot of twins in your family, greatly increases your chances of twins! Especially fraternal twins, as they are the ones that "run" in families. Identicals don't run, they are a chance of nature, as the one fertilized egg just splits for unknown reasons. When you see a lot of twins in families, the majority are usually fraternal.
Women in their second pregnancies sometimes show earlier, or seem to. The round ligament muscles have stretched once already, and give out easier to the growing uterus the second time around. I am thin also, and thought this might be the case in my second pregnancy, but twins always lurked in the back of my mind, until it was proven to me!
I would be sure to let your doctor know how different this pregnancy is than your first, and give him your history of twins in your family, if he doesn't already have it. My doctor disregarded my feelings, as I don't have a strong history of twins in my family. There is one set of fraternal twins that are nearly 70 years old, but that doesn't really matter, as my twins are identical.
Good luck! I hope you get the twins that you want!
~Melissa
Melissa is a part time working mother of three. Christian is 4 1/2, Kamryn and Kendyl are identical 18 month old twin girls. She is now pregnant with baby #4, due 12/5/00! She works as a tech on a mother/baby unit at a nearby hospital in Louisville, KY. She also highlights as a doula, in her spare time. She attended the doula workshop given by Birth, Babies, and Beyond in Atlanta, GA., in April of 1999. She has since then attended five births, (not including her own). She is currently working on her certification with DONA. (Doulas of North America)
Melissa has an apprentice/backup doula working under her, who will also attend Melissa's delivery in December. They plan on trying to start up their own business in the near future! Melissa has experience being a doula in labor and delivery, as a tech on the postpartum unit, newborn nursery, special care nursery, and gives breastfeeding support to new mothers.
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Further Reading
Q&A: How Does It Feel To Be Pregnant With Twins?
Pregnant with Twins
The First Kick - What Does It Feel Like?
Is It Normal To Feel So Tired?
Moms Talk: What Does Labor Really Feel Like?
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