Having a baby is already exciting enough, but think of the double happiness twins can give. If you suspect you’re having twins, the only way to know for sure is through a check-up with your doctor. These days, you don’t have to wait until you give birth to find out you’ve been carrying twins all along. A routine ultrasound test during your first trimester is often enough.
Your O.B. will usually advise you to undergo an ultrasound during the first three months of your pregnancy if you’re bigger than usual. This is to find out if your date of conception was miscalculated. If your pregnancy came as a result of in vitro fertilization, your doctor will use an ultrasound to find out how many embryos you’re carrying, usually during the first 8 weeks. An ultrasound will show you if you’re having more than one baby.
Another sign that you may be having twins is when there are multiple heartbeats detected during a test. You may also have higher-than-usual level of the hormone hCG, which increases at a faster rate than when you’re only having a single baby.
How NOT to know if you’re having twins
Some people will tell you that you’re probably carrying twins if your tummy looks bigger than it should. However, the size of your belly is not an accurate indicator that you have twin babies inside you. People usually say this because women carrying twins have bellies that are generally larger than that of women having single babies.
Another thing, just because you have twins in the family doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to carry twins. There is also some evidence that women who give birth to more babies increase their chance of carrying twins, which means women having babies for the first time don’t usually have twins.
In the case of identical twins, a single egg becomes fertilized but later on divides into two. It can either be a natural occurrence or as a result of fertility drugs. Fraternal twins are the result of two eggs being fertilized at the same time.
Identical twins often share one placenta and one amniotic sac while fraternal twins have separate sacs. There are cases, though, where identical twins have separate sacs. To confirm whether your twins are fraternal or identical, a doctor may perform some tests after delivery, such as an amniocentesis and a chorionic villus sampling. An ultrasound can also determine your babies’ gender and how many placentas are present.
Another test that may be performed to determine whether your twins are fraternal or identical is the trans-vaginal ultrasound. This is usually done 9 to 14 weeks if there is only one placenta. When you reach 18 weeks or more, your babies’ gender may be identified. If they’re both of the same sex, they’re identical. If not, you’re having fraternal twins.
Why it’s important to determine whether your twins are fraternal or identical
Aside from the possibility that people – family, friends, strangers – will be asking you whether our twins are fraternal or identical, there are certain health risks that you might want to know if your twins are susceptible to. If one of your twins has a genetic disease, there is a high likelihood that the other twin has it too. Fraternal twins are less likely to share the same genetic disease.
Another medical reason is TTTS or twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where one twin transfers fluids to his sibling – a possibility because they both share the same placenta. If untreated, it could put both twins at risk.
