With full confidence, the doctor will be able to say how many babies “settled” in the mother’s stomach after the 16th week of pregnancy. Until then, one of the twins can hide from the ultrasound.
“Secret twin” – so called not only real doubles, people between whom there is no family connection, but who are strikingly similar. It is also a toddler who is struggling to remain unnoticed while still in the womb. He even hides from the ultrasound sensor, and sometimes he succeeds.
Experts say there are several reasons why it is not possible to see twins during screening.
Ultrasound in the early stages – before the eighth week, it is easier to lose sight of the second baby. And if the ultrasound is also two-dimensional, then the chances that the second fetus will go unnoticed are growing.
Common amniotic sac. Gemini often develop in different bubbles, but sometimes they share one in two. In this case, it can be difficult to notice the second one.
The child is hiding on purpose. Seriously! Sometimes the baby is hiding behind the back of a brother or sister, they find a secluded corner of the uterus, hiding from the ultrasound sensor.
Doctor’s mistake – an inexperienced specialist may simply not pay attention to important details.
However, after the 12th week, the baby is unlikely to be able to go unnoticed. And after the 16th, there is practically no chance of this.
However, it can be assumed that the mother will have twins, and by indirect indications. Often they appear even before an ultrasound scan.
Severe nausea
You will say that everyone has it. Firstly, not all – toxicosis of many pregnant women bypasses. Secondly, with multiple pregnancies, morning sickness begins to pester the mother much earlier, already in the fourth week. The test does not show anything yet, but it is already brutally sick.
Fatigue
The female body devotes all its resources to raising two babies at once. When pregnant with twins, already in the fourth week, the hormonal balance changes greatly, a woman always wants to be small, and sleep becomes fragile, like a vase made of thin glass. All this leads to physical exhaustion, fatigue piles on, which has never happened before.
Weight gain
Yes, everyone gains weight, but especially in the case of twins. Doctors note that only in the first trimester, mothers can add about 4-5 kg. And normally for all nine months it is permissible to gain about 12 kilograms.
High hCG levels
The level of this hormone rises sharply from the very first weeks of pregnancy. But for mothers pregnant with twins, it just rolls over. For comparison: in the case of a normal pregnancy, the level of hCG is 96-000 units, and when a mother is carrying twins – 144-000 units. Powerful, right?
Early fetal movements
Usually, the mother feels the first shocks and movements closer to the fifth month of pregnancy. Moreover, if this is the first-born, then the “shakes” will begin later. And twins can begin to make themselves felt as early as the first trimester. Some mothers say that they even felt the movement from different sides at the same time.