Believe it or not, twin pregnancies are on the rise more than ever! Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the birth rate for twins has increased by 76% since 1980!
According to the statistics, during the year 2009, one in every 30 babies born were twins, compared to the 1980s, where it was one baby in every 53! Interesting, right?
Although, many early signs show that you are pregnant with twins. To know them, you will need to read this article till the end.
HCG Level is a Great Indicator
HCG, or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a hormone that women produce during pregnancy. This is the same hormone that delivers positive results when you test using home pregnancy testing kits.
Studies suggest that moms with twins produce more HCG for a long period than moms with single babies.
Although, one thing to note is that HCG production levels may vary from woman to woman. However, higher HCG levels don’t always mean that you are having twins.
In some cases, mothers carrying a single baby might produce higher HCG levels, while moms with twins might produce an unusually low HCG level.
Since moms with higher HCG levels usually have twins, other early signs automatically intensify. Here are some common problems that mothers of twins are fed of:
More Morning sickness
As your HCG levels rise, you are likely to experience extreme morning sickness, especially during a twin pregnancy. According to the studies, moms with twin pregnancies risk the most severe form of morning sickness: hyperemesis gravidarum.
Though this doesn’t mean all moms experience this. Every mother and her pregnancy is different.
If you are feeling morning sickness, here’s what you can do:
Eat healthily
Eating a well-balanced diet that includes protein, fat, and complex carbs will nourish you and your baby and regulate blood sugar, which is one of the causes of morning sickness.
Support the liver
The liver is the organ that processes hormones but is under a critical condition in the first trimester of pregnancy. To make your liver strong, go for milk thistle or dandelion tea. You can also consume apple cider vinegar, eat grapes, or drink beetroot juice.
Boost digestion
If you are experiencing frequent stomach upset and nausea, start drinking ginger or peppermint tea.
Keep your stomach full
When you wake up, the first thing you should do is eat food enriched in protein and complex carbs.
Food intolerance
Along with morning sickness, hormonal imbalance will cause some moms with twin pregnancies a feeling of hatred towards certain food. These food items are:
- Green leafy veggies
- Seafood
- Coffee
- Meat and many more.
Whatever the reason, it is best to avoid those foods for now and focus on eating healthy, mild-tasting food that you can tolerate, like broth, fruits, oats, smoothies, and more.
The good news is that this problem usually vanishes within a short period.
Too Much Exhaustion
One of the signs of being pregnant is tiredness, but you will feel it to the extreme if you are carrying twins in your womb. A sudden rise in progesterone that supports the gestation of two babies, along with a higher basal metabolic rate and the rate at which the body uses energy causes excess weakness.
In addition, the first trimester is the most crucial for developing the baby’s fundamental body systems (and don’t forget, you are having twins!)
When you are feeling low, try these things:
- If you are a working woman, try taking naps in between.
- Go off to bed as early as possible.
- If you are unable to sleep, practice meditation.
- Eat healthily and have a good prenatal as it can boost your energy levels.
- Water is equally important, so keep yourself hydrated.
- Lastly, go on a walk because it can increase your metabolism.
More Breast tenderness
During pregnancy, the breasts of future mothers become extremely painful and tender. And this doubles when you are carrying twins! Also, your breasts are working extra than usual to support two babies at a time.
Try these tips to reduce the pain of sore breasts:
- Get rid of tight, underwire bras and get softer ones.
- To avoid the pain of moving in bed, wear a cotton sleep bra.
- Don’t run or jump until the sensitivity is gone.
Final thoughts
These are the signs you’re pregnant with twins. To be 100% sure, you will have to get an ultrasound after six weeks of pregnancy.