Twin pregnancy symptoms are often the same as a singleton pregnancy but more intense, including severe morning sickness (nausea/vomiting), extreme fatigue, rapid weight gain, very tender breasts, and frequent urination, due to higher hormone levels (hCG) and increased demands on the body. Other signs can be feeling movement sooner, increased appetite, shortness of breath, and a larger-than-normal belly (large for dates), but an ultrasound is the only way to confirm twins.
More severe morning sickness.
People who are pregnant with multiples may feel nauseous for several hours and vomit a few times each day (called hyperemesis gravidarum). More breast tenderness, where your breasts feel very sore. Faster weight gain in the first trimester.
You might suspect you're having twins if your pregnancy symptoms feel extra intense — think: stronger morning sickness, major fatigue, and quicker weight gain — but you won't know for sure until that first ultrasound, usually between 6 and 9 weeks.
Older women generally have a higher chance of conceiving twins. A 35 year old woman is about 4 times more likely to have fraternal twins than a 15 year old! That is because they are experiencing some hormonal changes as they near menopause. This could encourage their body to release more than one egg during ovulation.
You may have the same symptoms during a twin pregnancy that you'd have during a pregnancy with one fetus. But with twins, you may also have earlier and more intense symptoms from pregnancy, like morning sickness, swelling, heartburn, leg cramps, bladder discomfort, and sleep problems.
In a twin pregnancy, there are elevated levels of hCG, making it possible to have a very early positive result. However, home pregnancy tests won't confirm if twins are present, only the presence of hCG. It takes around 2 weeks after conception for hCG to be detected in a hCG pregnancy test.
You may have pregnancy sickness in your second pregnancy even if you did not have it for your first. You are likely to have pregnancy sickness again if you have had it before, but that does not mean you will. You may notice more Braxton Hicks. You may feel more tired and feel like you have less time for yourself.
The gene for hyperovulation can come from either side of the family, but the woman would need to have the gene in order for the couple to have twins based on genetics. In other words, twins on the father's side of the family will have no influence on your chances of having twins.
The same goes for excessive morning sickness, which many women pregnant with multiples (but not all) experience. Other early signs of a twin pregnancy can include a greater appetite (which leads to extra weight gain), "showing" earlier in pregnancy, and feeling fetal movement in two different areas.
Age: If you're over the age of 35, you're more likely to release multiple eggs during ovulation. Family history: If your mother's side has a history of fraternal twins, there is a chance you could conceive twins naturally.
In most cases, twins can be detected as soon as 6 weeks of gestation in an early pregnancy scan. This type of ultrasound allows for a clearer image of the uterus and helps identify any potential complications early on.
There's no perfect time to share your pregnancy—do what feels right for you. Many wait until after the first trimester. Miscarriage risk drops after 13 weeks, but it's also OK to tell trusted loved ones earlier for support.
Pregnancy Symptoms at 6 Weeks
You may experience more nausea or fatigue and notice some additional symptoms that singleton pregnancies don't typically present. According to the American Pregnancy Association, these other symptoms may be indicators of twins: More than one heartbeat detected by a Doppler. Increased hCG levels in the body.
Having twins is a very different experience from a singleton pregnancy: Your symptoms may be more intense, you'll need to schedule extra appointments and testing, your calorie intake and weight gain requirements are higher, and there are more risks of certain pregnancy complications.
Weeks 5–6: First ultrasound confirms twins and checks if they are identical or fraternal. Weeks 8–12: Regular ultrasounds track heartbeats, limbs, and organ development. Weeks 16–20: The anatomy scan checks for growth and rules out potential problems. Weeks 24–28: Focus shifts to lungs, brain, and other vital systems.
At 8 weeks pregnant with twins, you've likely seen (or will soon see) your babies on an ultrasound. Pregnancy symptoms at this time include morning sickness, bloating, food cravings or distaste, fatigue, breast changes, frequent urination, and increased vaginal discharge.
Nausea and/or vomiting.
Many women experience pregnancy nausea, which typically starts between 4 and 8 weeks of pregnancy. Nausea is sometimes, not always, accompanied by vomiting.
While home pregnancy tests detect hCG in urine to confirm pregnancy, they cannot tell you how much hCG your body is producing. So even though some people swear that a darker line on a pregnancy test means more hCG (and by extension, might suggest a twin pregnancy), that's not the case.
Two separate eggs (ova) are fertilised by two separate sperm, resulting in fraternal or 'dizygotic' (two-cell) twins. These babies will be no more alike than siblings born at separate times. The babies can be either the same sex or different sexes.
Naturally occurring factors are:
Nobody knows what causes identical (monozygotic) twins. Everyone has the same chance of having identical twins: about 1 in 250. Identical twins do not run in families.
Some women pregnant with twins may feel fetal movements sooner than those carrying a single baby. With two babies, the movement might feel stronger or be more noticeable at an earlier stage in pregnancy, especially as both babies begin to grow.
But do these cravings really predict baby's sex? Scientific studies, including the comprehensive review by Wolfson & Bleich, have found no consistent pattern linking specific cravings to fetal sex.