21 Dec, 2025
4 Signs Of Twins During Pregnancy (My Pick After 6 Clinical Postings)
Pregnancy ,

What are the signs of twins during pregnancy? You may ask while deep in thoughts or soliloquizing. As at the time of writing this, I’m currently in my final year of my nursing degree program. With that said, I have been privileged to work with experts and professionals who pick up the slightest nuances and outliers. Thanks to six different oby/gyn clinical postings so far which are streamlined towards pregnancy and all surrounding it, some which I was mandated to go for and some which I volunteered to after the feeling of unsatisfaction and emptiness. There was one thing I learnt which I felt like not so many know. The signs of twins during pregnancy.

Signs Of Twins During Pregnancy

This topic came to mind because it’s Sunday morning and I have just returned from church service. There, where I saw a woman presenting one of the signs that is associated with twins pregnancy . So here I am, sitting while my phanlanges dance around my keyboard trying to piece several words together with the aim to disseminate an info.

Giving birth to twins is often more difficult and dangerous both for the mother and babies than giving birth to a single baby. In order to be safe, the mother should strive to give birth to her twins in a hospital because with twins, labor often begins early,. The mother should be within easy reach of a hospital after the seventh month of pregnancy.

Signs Of Twins During Pregnancy

Bigger Belly Than Usual

The first sign that a woman is likely to have twins is that the belly grows faster and the womb is larger than usual especially in the last months. Normally, the womb grows about 2 fingers higher each month. At four and half months, it is usually at the level of the navel. But if at 4 months, the womb has grown way up higher above the navel then there are two possibilities.

Being the least reliable and most controversial, bigger belly may also be a sign of excess/more water in the womb than normal. Secondly, it may be harboring double fetus and thirdly, uterus that has fibroids can make the whole belly appearance bigger than usual. If eventually it’s confirmed that their is too much water in the womb, then there is the risk of severe bleeding during childbirth. This is called Polyhydramnios

Image showing bigger belly than usual and how to measure belly growth as a sign of twins pregnancy

You Gained Weight Faster Than Normal

Compared to previous pregnancies, does everything feel elevated and doubled? You gained weight faster and heavier than normal. You were never this big before when you look back at other pregnancies of yours? Secondly, the common problems of pregnancy which includes morning sickness, back ache, varicose veins, piles, swelling and difficult breathing) are worse than usual. You know why? This is because of double placenta, each serving the twins.

Each placenta will inevitably secrete HCG hormone, therefore causing HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) levels to be very high. This HCG is what causes the feeling of nausea and vomiting other morning sickness. Thus, double placenta equals double HCG level which equals double urge to vomit. Be sure to check for twins when you feel this way.

READ ALSO: 4 Weeks Pregnancy Symptoms & 4 Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound (What To Expect)

You Can Feel Several Large Objects

When you look for signs of twins during pregnancy, this one is a no-brainer. It’s more like a confirmation without an ultrasound. If you palpate (touch) your belly at specific points around the sides and just above the pelvis and think you felt 3 or more large objects (heads and buttocks) in a womb that seems extra large, then twins are likely because twins mean two heads and two buttocks.

Ask a friend or someone close by to palpate so you are sure they felt the same thing you felt. If they don’t feel the same thing you felt, then rule out the thoughts until a much more reliable confirmation is made (ultrasound)

Hearing Two Different Heartbeats

This is difficult if you are not in the clinical or medical field. Why? Because there are some required apparatus, equipments and items needed. Again, one of the signs of twins during pregnancy is hearing two different heartbeats other than the mother’s. You can perform it on yourself if you have some clinical experience as a health worker with a fetal doppler.

An image showing a fetal doppler used to check fetal heartbeat
A fetal doppler

This is done by applying gel on your belly, and then moving the doppler on top of the gel around the belly while listening for the lub dub sound and taking a count for 15 seconds. Listening to fetal heartbeat can also be done with a toposcope but by a midwife or specialist. Be sure to check for twins when they say they can hear two different heart beats in your belly.

Twins are often born small and need special care and because of this, a lot of them are born pre-term because labour starts earlier than usual. However, there is no truth that twins have strange or magical powers

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Kalisia
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