Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy and How to Achieve a Twin Pregnancy
There are many tips circulated among people for conceiving twins. After undergoing some procedures for treating delayed conception, including IVF, couples quickly search for symptoms of twin pregnancy immediately afterwards. Below, we will clarify everything related to twin pregnancies and the most important symptoms of twin pregnancy.
How to Achieve a Twin Pregnancy
With the recent increase in Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedures and fertility treatments, the rate of twin pregnancies has increased.
Twin or triplet pregnancies sometimes occur by chance, and at other times, some factors may intervene, such as advancing age, which causes hormonal changes that lead to the release of more than one egg at a time.
Before reviewing the symptoms of twin pregnancy, you can know that twin pregnancy occurs in two ways:
Fertilization of a single egg by a single sperm, then that fertilized egg divides into two embryos with one placenta and one amniotic sac, or they can have one placenta but separate amniotic sacs as well.
Or fertilization of two eggs by two sperm, each giving a separate embryo with its own placenta and amniotic sac.
Types of Twin Pregnancies
There are two types of twin pregnancies, and the symptoms of twin pregnancy do not differ much between them. They are as follows:
Fraternal or Non-Identical Twins:
This is the most common type and occurs when two separate eggs are fertilized by two independent sperm.
Therefore, each twin has its own placenta and amniotic sac. The twin type can be determined in three options: two girls, two boys, or a boy and a girl.
They do not share the same DNA and do not look alike.
Identical or Monozygotic Twins:
This is less common than the first type. It occurs due to the division of a single egg fertilized by a single sperm, which grows to become two embryos.
Identical twins may share the same placenta and amniotic sac, or they may share the same placenta while each has a separate amniotic sac.
The two children are genetically identical, belong to the same gender, and share physical traits and characteristics.
Factors That Help in Conceiving Twins
There are several factors that help in conceiving twins by increasing the likelihood of the ovaries releasing more than one egg at a time.
Pregnancy in the Thirties or Beyond:
This is due to increased production of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), a hormone responsible for egg growth in the ovaries.
With advancing age, higher levels of FSH are needed because more stimulation is required for egg growth. This leads in many cases to the release of multiple eggs, resulting in twin pregnancies.
Some Genetic Factors:
A family history of twin pregnancies increases the likelihood of having twins. The more this chance increases from both the mother’s and father’s side, the greater the chance of having twins.
Being Overweight:
Contrary to common belief, being overweight for individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30 has increased chances of having twins due to elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are female sex hormones.
Increased body fat leads to overstimulation of the ovaries, and the ovaries may release several eggs instead of one.
However, conversely, pregnancy can be difficult for some individuals with severe obesity.
Regular Breastfeeding:
Can you imagine that simply breastfeeding regularly may increase your chances of conceiving twins?!
Breastfeeding may reduce fertility in the first six months after childbirth. However, it is possible to conceive twins while breastfeeding.
Some studies found that the twin pregnancy rate among non-breastfeeding women was 1.1%, much lower than the twin pregnancy rate among breastfeeding women, which was 11.4%.
Consuming Dairy Products:
Consuming dairy products increases the chances of conceiving twins because the growth hormones secreted by cows in their milk may cause changes in your hormone levels.
Frequent Pregnancy:
Having one or more previous pregnancies increases your chances of having twins, perhaps by the second or subsequent pregnancy when you are older, typically over 30.
Using Some Fertility Treatments:
This is to increase the chances of conceiving twins artificially through the use of modern techniques to assist in treating delayed conception, such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy
Whether you have tried any of the previous factors to help conceive twins, once pregnancy occurs, you should know that the body will start producing more hormones like estrogen and progesterone, along with the pregnancy hormone hCG, which cause some physical changes—these are the earliest signs of pregnancy.
The symptoms of twin pregnancy do not differ much from the symptoms of a singleton pregnancy, although many mothers reported increased severity of symptoms when pregnant with more than one baby.
An ultrasound scan is the only way to confirm the symptoms of a twin pregnancy.
Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy from the First Week
There are some symptoms specific to twin pregnancy from the first week, including:
Morning Sickness: One of the most famous pregnancy symptoms in general, it starts around the fourth week of the cycle and may last longer throughout the day and be stronger with a twin pregnancy.
Women pregnant with twins feel constant fatigue and exhaustion that doubles as the fetus grows, but it is not a definitive sign of a twin pregnancy.
hCG Levels: The level of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), a hormone produced by the body during pregnancy, rises. In the case of pregnancy with more than one baby, it appears at elevated levels, which is one of the reliable indicators of a twin pregnancy.
hCG results in mothers pregnant with twins are 30 to 50% higher than in mothers pregnant with a single baby.Hearing dual fetal heartbeats by the doctor using a Doppler starting around the eighth week, where another heartbeat is noticed, confirming the presence of another fetus.
Some Complications That May Occur with Twin Pregnancies
There are some potential complications that may result from a twin pregnancy, for example:
Premature Birth: The more babies you are carrying, the less likely you are to carry the pregnancy to term.
Gestational Diabetes: Women pregnant with twins are at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes.
High Blood Pressure: A twin pregnancy increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): This occurs in identical twins due to sharing a blood vessel in the common placenta that transfers more blood than it should to one fetus while the other receives less than it should. This is a serious complication for the fetus that can lead to heart complications and may necessitate fetal surgery while you are still pregnant.