Pregnant with twins

Maybe you were secretly dreaming of twins? Maybe it wasn’t what you had imagined at all. Either way, the news that you’re expecting twins can still be pretty overwhelming. Once you’ve absorbed the news, you should know that you’re among the few people who get to look forward to the incredible experience of having siblings growing up side by side, who in many cases develop a unique, close relationship to one another. Twins are considered a sacred gift in many cultures.

Signs that you’re expecting twins

People often wonder if it’s possible to tell in advance that you’re carrying twins, but usually you’ll just have the typical signs of pregnancy. Sometimes, the nausea can be worse because the physiological change is more intense. But there are no sure signs – extreme nausea can also be from just one baby. Most of the time, you’ll find out whether you’re expecting one or multiple babies at your first ultrasound.

Being pregnant with twins

Even if the early signs of pregnancy are no different from the signs with just one baby, carrying multiples absolutely entails more stress on the body the later into pregnancy you get – indeed, you’re creating two babies, and they both need space. Your belly will get bigger; you will likely have a few more pregnancy aches, and the risk of some complications like preeclampsia is slightly higher. That’s why if you’re expecting twins, you need even more rest. Basically, it’s extra taxing to carry twins, so it’s best to be prepared for that. When you’re carrying twins, it’s common to go on sick leave towards the end of pregnancy, but either way, it’s good to prepare to not work all the way until it’s time to give birth.

More checks and ultrasounds with twins

When you’re carrying multiples, it’s especially important to monitor their growth. So throughout the pregnancy, you will have more frequent visits with your doctor or midwife and regular ultrasound checks to make sure that both babies are growing as they should be, to check how they are positioned relative to one another, and to make sure you are doing well. It can be difficult to see from an ultrasound whether you’re having twins from one or two eggs. In all likelihood, you will have twins from two eggs, which is about twice as common as single-egg twins.

Which week are twins born?

Twins are usually born earlier. The average birth week is week 36, but some people give birth earlier and others go a little longer. Twins tend to be born earlier due to increased pressure on the cervix, but also because it’s just more crowded in the womb towards the end. You might sometimes be induced earlier, for example, if there are any signs that one twin isn’t growing as much as the other.

Giving birth to twins

About half of all twin births are vaginal and giving birth to twins doesn’t particularly differ from giving birth to one baby. In labour, you’ll have one opening phase and two pushing phases. But the first baby will have already widened the cervix and birth canal, so the pushing phase is almost always easier with the second baby. In other words, giving birth to two babies will not be twice the work or twice as painful. But there will be more staff present: two midwives and an obstetrician always assist the labour when giving birth to twins. When the first baby is born, the obstetrician will hold the mother’s belly to position the second baby properly. Sometimes twins are born in rapid succession, but usually the body takes a little break, between ten minutes and an hour.

And sometimes there will be a planned C-section, which will proceed just like a C-section with one baby. This might be because the first twin is breech, or the babies weigh very little, and vaginal birth is thought to be too stressful on very small babies. A doctor will assess the situation, and of course you will be part of the discussion.

If the twins are born too early, they may require care in the neonatal unit for a little while. In that case, they will be together the entire time, and the parents participate in caring for their babies at the hospital during this earliest period.

Preparing for twins – mentally and practically

Expecting twins can be exciting. You might also be extra nervous. Maybe you feel lucky – or maybe unlucky, and maybe you feel all of this at once. Part of mental preparation is trying to allow space for all of your emotions and to talk about them with your partner if you have one, and with others, too.

Focusing on your own health is especially important, in order to keep your energy up. Recovery is important, but how you do it should be right for you: maybe a walk in the woods, maybe some time on your yoga mat, or maybe a hot bath. If you have a partner, it’s especially important for them to be involved, both during the pregnancy and when the babies arrive. It may be wise for your partner to assess their work schedule to see if you can spend time at home together in the beginning. Parental benefits may enable you to take time off work for each baby, which would be a way to help each other out during the first few months. It’s also a good idea to start thinking now about your network and whether any close friends or family might be able to provide some practical support. If you’re a single parent of twins, this will be especially important – because however ambitious you may be, most of us still only have two arms, and seemingly simple tasks like feeding your little ones or keeping your laundry in check might feel nearly impossible at first. Perhaps an older relative or close friend can stay with you for that first little while.

Practical preparations will also be a bit more extensive. The babies can share some things, but you’ll need two of other supplies, like beds and car seats; even your pram will need to be suitable for more than one baby. Many things can be purchased used. One tip: try to be as practically prepared as possible, for example: stock the freezer with food and apply for parental benefits for a few months ahead, if applicable. It will be nice to have minimised any other essential tasks during the earliest time.

Two miracles and a new family

Those first few days and weeks at home will be just as emotional as they would be with one baby, but a twin pregnancy is stressful on the body and you will need more recovery. Many people who have twins also find those first two months particularly exhausting, for obvious reasons. There are two little people to get to know and twice as many needs to meet. For some people, set routines help daily life run as smoothly as possible, while for others, variation and flexibility are preferable. As the parent of twins, you’re doing an extraordinary amount of work those first few months! But in many cases, things shift over time and the advantages of having twins often become more noticeable in daily life when your children are older. Twice the work, but also twice the joy – twins are challenging and rewarding all at once!

Please note that all information above is based on Swedish recommendations.