Twin Pregnancy Week by Week

Twins are conceived in a different way to singleton babies. Twins are formed when one of two events happen at conception: Either two eggs are released by a woman’s ovaries and fertilized by two separate sperm—known as non-identical, fraternal or dizygotic twins—or, one egg is fertilized by one sperm and this egg splits into two identical halves. These are known as identical, non-fraternal or monozygotic twins.

Identical twins share exactly the same genetic structures and are always the same gender. Non-identical twins can look very different and be the opposite gender. They share the same similarities and differences as any other siblings who have the same biological parents.

Twin development after conception is the same as for individual babies. They will grow and develop at the same rate.

When will I know what type of twins I’m having?

It is often not clear in the early weeks of a woman’s pregnancy what type of twins she is carrying. Between 5 weeks and 6 weeks pregnant with twins, many women first become aware they are pregnant. Ultrasounds can determine which type of twins are present, but not always. It’s common to not know for sure until twins are born and the placenta and membranes are examined.

Twin pregnancy development

Depending on the type of twins a mother is having, her babies may either share an amniotic sac or each baby will grow in their own separate one. They may share a placenta or each has their own. Although it’s unusual, it is even possible for identical twins to have separate amniotic sacs. But each baby will have their own umbilical cord. Non-identical twins have their own, separate placentas because they were conceived from two separate eggs. This is different from identical twins who share one placenta. Although most women who are pregnant with twins will have similar experiences, it’s important to remember that every woman and her twin pregnancy will be unique. Genetics, environment, size, and previous obstetric history all play a part.

How is a twin pregnancy different?

One of the obvious differences about being pregnant with twins is that you will get a lot bigger than if you are carrying only one baby. Your uterus will need to stretch many times from its original size to accommodate two growing babies. Although the average length of gestation is 38 to 42 weeks, it is very uncommon for twin pregnancies to last until 40 weeks or beyond. The sheer lack of space for two babies to grow past that is often the catalyst for early labor. This is one of the reasons why twins are often premature. There is also an increased risk of maternal complications with a twin or a multiples pregnancy. The risks of these occurring increases with each week of gestation.

Twin pregnancy symptoms

During a twin pregnancy, some changes may be subtle and others more obvious. When carrying twins, it seems that every symptom is multiplied. With singleton pregnancies, the uterus tends to grow at a steady and measured pace. But with twins, for every week that passes, a mother’s tummy increases exponentially. Her increasing weight will reflect this as well, and those creeping numbers are not due solely to the weight of the twins. Her breasts, increased blood volume, the weight of the placenta and amniotic fluid and general increase in body fat stores all need to be accommodated week by week.

First trimester twin pregnancy (weeks 5 to 13)

The first trimester is the first three months or 13 weeks pregnant with twins. Extreme nausea is a common experience with twin pregnancies because of the high levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone (hCG). Pregnancy symptoms being more severe and they can also occur much earlier on. It is not uncommon for women in their first trimester of twin pregnancy to look pregnant. The enlarging uterus lifts and rises out of the pelvis much earlier with two babies than one. Generally, it’s not until around weeks 5 to 6 that a woman may suspect she is pregnant. But with twins, the symptoms can be so obvious that she takes an earlier pregnancy test. An early positive test is common when pregnant with twins.

Symptoms of twins in the first trimester

Second trimester twin pregnancy (weeks 14 to 27)

The second or middle trimester lasts from week 14 to week 27. This is often the most enjoyable of the three trimesters because it’s when pregnancy nausea and fatigue has settled and the size of the uterus is not too large. Mobility is generally reasonable and walking and sitting isn’t yet an issue. These are the weeks when many women who are pregnant with twins find they have a renewed sense of energy and optimism, and perhaps for the first time, enjoyment in their pregnancy. Many become excited about the prospect of having twins. When you are 20 weeks pregnant with twins, you’ve reached the half way mark.

Third trimester twin pregnancy (weeks 28 to 40)

The third trimester spans weeks 28 to 40 of pregnancy. This is when twin pregnancy can become very obvious. Like any singleton pregnancy, individual women will “carry” their twin pregnancy differently. Some seem to just have a neat little bulge at front while others carry their pregnancy from side to side. Fetal movements can be very strong and seen through the wall of the mother’s abdomen, especially as you near closer to term. For small or petite women this is more obvious than women who are taller and have a larger frame. Swelling, fatigue, exhaustion and a lack of general energy are all common symptoms for mothers in their final weeks of pregnancy as they prepare for labor and childbirth.

Complications of twin pregnancy

Frequently asked questions about twin pregnancy

Will my labor and childbirth be more complicated with twins? Generally, there is an increased likelihood of labor and birth intervention with twins. Cesarean section is more common, especially if they are the first babies. I’ve just had my twin pregnancy confirmed and I can’t get my head around it. During the second trimester many women say they become more emotionally attached to their twins. The early, fearful weeks have passed and with them, the higher risks of miscarrying.