Pregnant with Twins: What Changes?

You’ve just found out that you’re expecting not one but two little ones! Lots of questions come to mind: how will my pregnancy go? And the birth? How do I prepare for the arrival of two babies? We go through it with you.

How will my pregnancy be monitored?

It’s at the start of your pregnancy, at the first scan, that you find out you’re expecting twins. You’ll quickly realise that a twin pregnancy needs much closer monitoring than a single pregnancy. It increases the risk of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, oedema, protein in the urine and therefore pre-eclampsia. To take every necessary precaution, you’ll have twice as many scans as in a standard pregnancy. If each of your babies has its own placenta (dichorionic pregnancy), a scan will be scheduled every month to monitor their growth and development. It will also help detect any malformations or a risk of premature birth. And if your babies share the same placenta (monochorionic pregnancy), a scan will be arranged every 15 days from the sixteenth week of amenorrhoea. These scans check that your babies are growing properly and that their development stays balanced. Finally, in the last weeks, weekly appointments with your doctor are recommended. That way, they can answer your final concerns and keep an eye on your health and that of your little ones right to the end.

Are my symptoms more severe?

As with any pregnancy, every woman is different, and so are your symptoms! However, it’s true that when you’re expecting twins, you’re likely to be more tired than usual. Your heart is working harder, and discomforts such as vomiting or nausea are also more frequent. In addition, breathing difficulties can be more pronounced because the uterus takes up more space under the diaphragm. Finally, from the sixth month, you’re likely to feel heavier. The reasons: your uterus is already the size of a woman’s at full term, and your weight gain is 30 to 40% higher than in a single pregnancy. That’s why you absolutely must adopt a calmer pace of life and get plenty of rest.

Note that if you’re expecting two babies, in France your maternity leave will be longer. It officially starts 12 weeks before your due date and continues for 22 weeks after your little ones are born.

What are the risks of a twin pregnancy?

Your doctor advises you not to carry heavy loads, and rest has become your watchword. There’s a reason for this: the risk of premature birth, which is high in a twin pregnancy. However, regular medical monitoring will allow you to anticipate the slightest risk. But why is the likelihood of giving birth prematurely higher? From 32 weeks of pregnancy, the large size of your uterus leads to a lack of space and uterine distension, which tend to bring on labour early.

You also need to watch out for possible growth restriction or twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. This results in unequal blood flow between the two twins. In this case, one baby is the donor (giving more in the blood exchange than it receives) and the other, conversely, is the recipient (receiving more than it gives back). Rest assured: when treated in time with intrauterine placental surgery, it allows 8 out of 10 babies to have no lasting after-effects. And for you, as mentioned earlier, the risk of high blood pressure (abnormally high pressure of blood in the arteries) also needs to be monitored. But don’t panic! It is easily managed by your gynaecologist or midwife, who will keep a close eye on it. What’s more, the precautions to take in the event of high blood pressure are simple: rest, a balanced diet, little physical exercise and following the advice given by your midwife or gynaecologist.

And what about the birth?

With a twin pregnancy, it is strongly recommended that you choose a level 2 or 3 maternity unit for the birth. These have medical staff and specialist equipment that will allow you to give birth in the best possible conditions.

Also, when you’re expecting twins, giving birth at full term is rare. In most cases, the birth happens early. It is sometimes even induced at 38.5 weeks to avoid any risk of complications.

You’re probably also wondering which method is preferred for a twin birth. While a vaginal birth is sometimes still possible, caesarean sections are more common than in standard pregnancies. Complications such as prematurity or the wrong position of one or both babies are more frequent, and therefore more often lead to this method of delivery.

If you give birth vaginally, allow 10 to 15 minutes between the two births. After that, the delivery of the placenta will be closely monitored by your medical team. Why? As it is larger, the risk of haemorrhage is higher, because the uterus has been more distended and finds it harder to contract.

How do I prepare for my babies’ arrival?

When you’re pregnant with twins, the question is: “Do I have to buy everything twice?”. Preparing for one baby already takes a budget, so for two, it can quickly become financially difficult! Some purchases will inevitably have to come in pairs: two cots, two car seats, two high chairs, two bouncers… And don’t forget the double pushchair! As for clothes (bodysuits, sleepsuits), you’ll need lots of them. But the main thing is that each of your babies has their own things. Add to this list all the care and hygiene products, plus everything needed for mealtimes.

What’s more, many retailers are adapting their offers to meet your needs, and that’s the case with Premiers Moments and its Build Your Own Set!

It has been specially designed so that your two little ones want for nothing! You’ll find everything you need for your babies’ sleep, clothing, mealtimes, bath time, nappy changes and care.

That’s everything you need to know if you’re expecting two little ones! Even if it came as a surprise at first, in the end, two babies = twice the happiness, right?

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.