Can a doctor not see twins on an ultrasound scan: the possibility of diagnosing multiple pregnancies in the early stages. When is twins visible on ultrasound? Norms and terms of development, photo What does twins look like on ultrasound

Upon learning about their pregnancy, many women begin to worry a lot, and this is not unreasonable. Before it comes, many questions remain unanswered.

For example, how many children are conceived will be of interest to those who have had multiple pregnancies among their relatives. This is very important to know, since multiple pregnancies require increased attention from doctors and, directly, the pregnant woman herself.

Twins or twins are objective signs

Everyone knows that fraternal twins can be one in 80 times. Twins on an ultrasound scan are noticeable from the very beginning of conception. So, you can define it very easily.

For this, there are both objective and subjective signs.

At multiple pregnancy from the first days of the delay she will be tormented by severe toxicosis... Its signs are significantly enhanced than when carrying one child.

The pregnant woman becomes more irritable, she has increased drowsiness and weakness.

In addition, the woman may feel dizzy and nauseous, and she also begins to vomit.

Until the time comes for ultrasound, in addition to toxicosis, on early dates you can determine the presence of twins or twins.

In multiple pregnancies, the test shows clearly pronounced two bands, which is different when conceiving one child.

The clearly visible second stripe is due to the presence of the girl in the urine. In addition, about a woman's belly begins to grow and she feels the movements of the babies, which cannot be said about a singleton pregnancy.

Signs on an ultrasound scan of twins or twins

But the surest way to find out if a woman has multiple pregnancies is to do it. H

and an ultrasound scan can more accurately find out at what stage of pregnancy the girl is and whether the babies have pathologies. This method can also identify identical or fraternal twins.

I would also like to say that you can see twins on an ultrasound scan of 5 weeks of pregnancy. Only identical twins are identified much later than fraternal twins. Identical twins are visible at about.

No matter how a woman tries to determine her condition or the course of pregnancy on her own, it would be best to contact a specialist and find out a professional point of view about her interesting position.

With the help of ultrasound diagnostics, it is best to determine.

4 weeks pregnant ultrasound. Multiple pregnancy.

From the location of the embryos, twins on ultrasound can definitely be seen already in. It is almost impossible to see identical twins in the first weeks.

The reason is that the embryos seem to be located one after the other. The belly also not every time can give out multiple pregnancy, and only by that it begins to noticeably grow and during this period the babies begin to contact each other.

As a rule, pregnant twins are hospitalized ahead of schedule, since there is a high risk of giving birth ahead of time.

If multiple pregnancies were not seen at screening

On ultrasound, twins are visible already at 6 weeks, but at the same time there are situations when the uzist may not see multiple pregnancies. This happens if the screening is done at a later date due to the fact that they were missed.

It is also possible not to see twins when old examination equipment is used. And this is not news, because such a situation is considered normal for small towns, where the level of medicine leaves much to be desired.

The fact is that old ultrasound machines have a beam length of just over seven inches, which is not enough for examining the uterine cavity in the period before childbirth.

Therefore, it also happens that twins are not visible on ultrasound and the birth of several children is an unexpected joy for doctors and relatives of a woman in labor.

When an ultrasound scan of 6 weeks does not show a multiple pregnancy, one should not be offended or suspected of the incompetence of the doctors who did the study.

If the usual examination and ultrasound do not coincide, then it is better to apply for a second examination at a paid clinic or hospital of the regional center.

If you are sure that you have a multiple pregnancy, then you need to conduct an examination at least once with good expensive equipment.

And even if you live in a small village or city, you do not need to spare money and time to get a good examination, because the life of future babies and women in labor depends on this.

Type of multiple pregnancy on ultrasound

5 embryos on the ultrasound image

On screening, twins are visualized as two dark spots, which are located in the uterine cavity.

At this time, the babies have already separated their fingers on their hands, and their umbilical cords are also identified. Also, at this time, one or two placentas are formed.

By 12 weeks, the twins have already grown to 6 cm, and the total weight of the babies is about 15 grams.

Already at 20 weeks, the weight of each of the babies can be about 350 grams, while one of them can be seen much larger than the second.

The reason is that one of the babies has a regular discharge of blood through a blood shunt.

Monozygotic and dizygotic twins

An identical or monozygotic twin will be visible on the ultrasound scan around.

They form when a fertilized egg splits in half to form two embryos of the same sex.

An interesting fact is that such twins are obtained with the "cooperation" of just one egg and one sperm.

Monozygotic twins are very difficult to distinguish and tend to have very strong emotional attachments to each other.

The appearance of identical twins cannot be called a coincidence of heredity. Rather, it is an anomaly that occurs only three times per 1000 pregnancies.

As for non-identical twins, they are born in two different eggs.

These twins are also called dizygotic and it is interesting that the time between their conception can range from several hours to a week.

Genetically, twins have similarities like regular siblings. Cases of birth of same-sex children are equal to those with children of different genders.

The birth of twins or twins is a double joy

It is impossible to schedule twins naturally. If a woman is already pregnant and knows about it, then it is impossible to influence the further development of events.

Indeed, even in the process of fertilization, information about the child is laid, as well as how many children there will be.

Imagine, from the very beginning, two children develop inside a pregnant woman, but on ultrasound they are noticeable only after 5 weeks, and even then not always.

Another thing is unit fertilization, when it is in a woman's uterus.

It happens that not one can take root, but sometimes several take root, which accompanies the development and birth of two or more babies.

Whoever was born to parents, they will still be happy.

But it is better to prevent such surprises in advance, because with multiple pregnancies, not only the training of doctors and women is needed.

The emotional preparation of the dad and the apartment is also very important, in which two small lumps of happiness can be located.

An ultrasound scan for twins is required quite often, since multiple pregnancies have long ceased to be something out of the ordinary. The likelihood of having twins or twins is seriously increased if either parent has had similar precedents in the family, or if the pregnancy was achieved through IVF. In modern conditions, it is possible to install multiple pregnancies almost regardless of the term. As the time of delivery approaches, it will be possible to determine whether you will have twins or identical twins.

Previously, there were many ways to identify twins without ultrasound. Various external signs were used to determine. However, modern research makes this task much easier. Doctors have to see twins on ultrasound in one of 80 cases. At the same time, ultrasound of triplets, twins, any ultrasound of multiple pregnancies will differ even at the very stage of conception. However, for an accurate definition of twins or twins, there are signs that are divided into objective and subjective.

Before the twins are confirmed by ultrasound, the woman will face severe toxicosis. This is explained by the bearing of several fruits at once. Many pregnant women at such moments emphasize their irritability. Drowsiness and weakness are more pronounced than in the case of one child. In addition, dizziness and nausea are more common in women, often turning into vomiting.

In addition, a pregnancy test can be considered as another subjective sign. Often, when testing, the stripes look unexpressed pale, the girls even redo the test, assuming that it is incorrect. When it comes to multiple pregnancies, the test will always be very bright, with two clear stripes.

This severity is explained by the increased amount of hCG in the girl's urine, to which the test components react. Already in the region of the third month, there is a tummy, which is growing rapidly, and the movement of babies is felt, which is rarely manifested during pregnancy with one fetus.

It is important to immediately emphasize that identical and fraternal twins will look different on ultrasound, which helps to determine whether the result will be monozygous or not. Twins are identical to twins. The point is that two eggs were fertilized with one sperm. In the second case of multiple pregnancy, ultrasound will demonstrate the fertilization of one egg with two sperm. This factor is highly dependent on heredity.

Many scientists have been studying the life of twins for a long time. According to the data obtained, twins are characterized by the presence of the same diseases, it is more difficult for women to bear them. With such a pregnancy, there is a threat of miscarriage at any time. You can determine the degree of threat by various signs that are known to doctors.

Features of appointment

Many mothers are interested in the answer, whether it is possible not to see twins on an ultrasound, whether the doctor can be mistaken: In 99 percent of a hundred, ultrasound gives the correct result. However, we must not forget that the percentage still exists, so the doctor can still not see the twins on an ultrasound scan. However, most often, the number of fruits and their sex are determined without problems. Many doctors do this already in the early stages (we are talking about multiple pregnancies), when the first screening for twins is performed.

In general, there are four time stamps that answer the question of how long an ultrasound should be performed:

  • fifth week;
  • period from 10 to 14 weeks;
  • period from 20 to 24 weeks;
  • period from 32 to 34 weeks.

Already at the beginning of the second month, twins are indicated. At that time, the doctor can confirm not only the presence of the embryo, but also indicate the presence of heart contractions, confirm that it is viable. During this period, in 80 percent of cases, multiple pregnancy is determined. Twins in this time interval have the appearance of dark spots located in the uterine cavity.

The examination, which is scheduled for the period from 10 to 14 weeks, is scheduled before the end of the first trimester. In this case, it is possible at an early stage to identify malformations that can lead to death immediately after birth or to serious disability. This early check allows you to decide whether to terminate the pregnancy.

The second screening is scheduled from 20 to 24 weeks. As part of this routine examination, the child's facial features are already available for consideration, the limbs are clearly visible, and the gender can be determined. In addition, the measurement and comparison of organs of the internal type is made in size with what is considered to be the norm. The functionality of systems of primary importance is determined.

The third ultrasound screening for twins is scheduled for 32 to 34 weeks. Such a check allows you to understand how the child is developing correctly, to assess the blood flow within the vessels and placenta. During this time period, parents often do an ultrasound scan in 3D. This allows you to get acquainted in more detail with a face that has already been fully formed, to take pictures for memory.

Sometimes an ultrasound scan can be prescribed by a doctor in a later period, closer to childbirth. In this case, the doctor may have doubts about the correctness of the fetus. Sometimes they swing downward with their hips.

Features of the definition

Decades earlier, there were many ways to determine the number of children, but they all worked only at the last stages. The reference was big size uterus, on palpation it was possible to find two babies, listen to their heartbeat.

Today, ultrasound is able to detect the presence of pregnancy in several fetuses at the end of the first month of gestation. In the fifth week, the embryo is implanted to the uterine wall. Usually, the appointment of an ultrasound scan earlier than nine to twelve weeks is at the discretion of the doctor when uterine enlargement was detected.

To determine the embryonic number in the fifth week, ultrasound specialists calculate the number of placentas, amniotic bubbles, determine how many heart tones can be distinguished, and specify the number and size of embryos.

At five weeks, there is a high probability of detecting twins if the mother is carrying fraternal twins. The definition of identical twins is more complicated. In this case, multiple pregnancies are set only at 9-12 weeks.

However, in some cases, twins are not detected at the first screening. So in this case, a great help will be provided by the passage of 3D ultrasound. The volumetric image will more accurately tell the doctor who exactly the patient is waiting for.

Twin classification

In accordance with established norms, twins are divided into identical and fraternal. It has already been noted above that the former are considered twins in the understanding of the majority. They emerge from a single egg that has been separated in the process, and always have the same sex. Twins, in turn, develop from two different eggs. They are similar to each other, but no more than an ordinary brother and sister. Gender can vary.

When it comes to ultrasound diagnostics, twins are determined by other signs. It is about assessing the placental amount, the presence of amniotic-type membranes. If we use this approach as a basis, then there are three options: bichorial and monochorial bamniotic or monochorial monoamniotic.

Each of the bichoral twins has its own placenta and ovum, while the interfetal septum has several layers. For such embryos, both mono-oocytic and dicotyledonous are characteristic. The latter option occurs when the egg has divided into two in the first three days after fertilization.

Monochorionic biamniotic twins cannot have two eggs. Such fruits have different amniotic membranes, but one placenta. The shell between the fruits has two layers, and the egg is separated during the first three to eight days.

The latter option also offers identical twins. They have a common placenta and amniotic membrane, and there is no septum at all. In this case, the division of the fertilized egg occurs between the 8th and 13th days.

Sometimes, with an ultrasound scan with multiple pregnancies, the uzist cannot see twins. In most cases, this is due to the late date of the diagnosis, when the first visits were missed. In addition, old equipment may not be beneficial to the expectant mother. This often happens in small towns where the level of medicine is low. This is due to the fact that old devices have a small beam length, which does not allow examining the uterine cavity before childbirth. Therefore, it turns out that the woman in labor and the doctors will find out about multiple pregnancies already in the process.

Determination of sex in the case of twins is carried out at the same time as in a singleton pregnancy. At the same time, it is usually more difficult to determine the sex of twins, since children can hide behind each other without turning in front of the wall of the pregnant woman's abdomen.

Hello dear subscribers! Want news? You will have twins! Guess by what signs I understood this? This discovery usually awaits a woman during a visit to a gynecologist. But you can find out earlier. When is the best time to get an ultrasound scan for twins in the early stages? Expectant mothers, rather check your symptoms and plan your trip to the doctor.

Symptoms of carrying twins

Ultrasound is the most reliable method for detecting multiple pregnancies. But besides him, there are symptoms that make it possible to suspect pregnancy with twins. They can manifest themselves in several signs at once, or they can accompany the development of a dizygote one by one. What are these clinical manifestations?

  • It is unusually greasy on the test. As a rule, in the early stages, it is barely noticeable. Its thickness indicates the presence a large number HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is used to diagnose pregnancy. If it is more than the norm, this may indicate multiple pregnancy, and it is visualized as a bold stripe. Of course, a blood test for this hormone will give the most accurate result.


  • Who else but you know what's going on. Presentiment rarely fails women, they are endowed with it by Nature.

The best way to learn about multiple pregnancies

And yet, only ultrasound can give you accurate knowledge. Ultrasound is able to look inside the uterus, breaking through all the tissues. He will tell about what he saw by displaying the image on the display screen. The procedure is safe for the mother and the unborn child. No wonder, in each trimester, a special ultrasound screening is carried out so as not to miss congenital anomalies of development, the uncomfortable state of the baby, and his intrauterine death.

Ultrasound is able, reflecting from different sides of the zygote, and then the fetus, to create a three-dimensional image. It separately shows white bone tissue, black amnion ( amniotic fluid), the rest of the fabrics are dyed in gray tones. This is possible due to echogenicity - different densities of the tissues under study. even the most early pregnancy visible on ultrasound as a small black dot or circle. But already at a period of 6 weeks, the embryo itself, the yolk sac and the heartbeat in the form of a specific flicker are clearly defined.

What are twins?

By the way, in addition to dividing twins into identical and bizygotic, there is another gradation of them into three types:


It only occurs in identical twins with one placenta. It is also called fetal fetal transfusion syndrome (FFT). The bottom line is the development of one fetus to the detriment of another with impaired blood circulation, the occurrence of hypoxia. The prognosis for the donor fetus is unfavorable.

When can I go for an ultrasound scan for twins?

Ultrasound "sees" twins very early. Starting from the 5th week of pregnancy in the first trimester (my option). But many doctors choose to wait up to 12 weeks for a final diagnosis. If during this time one of the twins is not absorbed by the placenta due to non-viability, then we can safely diagnose twins. And it is better not to bother mom before that. After all, this is pure physiology, which does not harm either her or her baby.

By the way, identical twins, developing normally, can also be distinguished at this time (12 weeks). In general, twins are rendered reluctantly. Old equipment may not notice them at all. Therefore, do 3D or 4D ultrasound in medical centers equipped with new modern devices.

I look forward to your comments and see you soon!

Twins on an ultrasound scan are always a big surprise for future parents. However, the need to identify multiple pregnancies is dictated not only by the desire to please the pregnant patient, but also by the importance of drawing up a plan for medical supervision before delivery.

If the expectant mother is expecting twins, she will be advised to visit the doctor more often and do an ultrasound scan, rather than with a singleton pregnancy, to consume more vitamins, minerals and medicines that improve the nutrition of the placenta.

Thus, the importance of timely detection of twins is difficult to dispute, but it is necessary to consider several more pressing questions: how long is twins determined on an ultrasound scan, with the help of which studies, besides ultrasound, does the doctor detect multiple pregnancies, and can twins be noticed during a medical examination?

How long can you see twins

Modern ultrasound devices allow you to record the fact of multiple pregnancies as early as 5 weeks after the alleged conception. The accuracy of the results is at and close to the absolute maximum. Therefore, if there are indirect reasons to believe that the expectant mother is expecting not one child, but two or more, it is better to resort to these methods.

But conventional ultrasound also shows multiple pregnancies at a relatively early stage:

  • with identical pregnancy - at 5 weeks;
  • with a fraudulent pregnancy - at 9-12 weeks.

Can ultrasound not show twins

Is it possible that doctors will not notice multiple pregnancies? In practice, this happens when the expectant mother does not undergo medical examinations in a timely manner, that is, she simply does not come for an ultrasound scan.

Theoretically, a doctor working on a very old ultrasound machine can not see twins on an ultrasound scan. But there are other factors that make it possible to spot twins. Therefore, the risk that multiple pregnancies will go unnoticed when passing studies approved by the orders of the Ministry of Health is critically minimal.

Multiple pregnancy

This is a pregnancy in which more than one fetus develops in the mother's abdomen. More often we are talking about twins, but cases have been recorded when a mother reproduces up to 10 babies at the same time. True, such cases find a place in the book as a record and are extremely rare.

Carrying twins can be classified into three types, which in turn are classified into several categories.

  1. The number of embryos in the uterus: twins, triplets and so on within the limits allowed by nature.
  2. Number of fertilized eggs: twins can be born both when one egg is fertilized, or different ones. Thus, within the framework of the classification, this type can be divided into two subspecies:
  • carrying identical twins, when one egg is fertilized, which is subsequently divided into two with the same genetic set;
  • carrying fraternal twins, when different eggs are fertilized at the same time, therefore, twins of the same or different sexes are born, physically similar friend on a friend no more than siblings.


According to statistics, identical twins are born less often than fraternal twins, since the number of the latter has increased with the extensive introduction of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

  1. The number of placentas and amniotic (water) membranes:
  • Monoamniotic monochorionic pregnancy - occurs only in identical twins, if the cell is divided in the period from 8 to 13 days from the moment of fertilization; in this case, there is one placenta for several fruits, and there is no membrane between the fruits;
  • Biamniotic monochorionic - also occurs only when carrying identical twins, the egg of which is divided from 3 to 8 days after conception; in this case, there will be one placenta and a two-layer membrane between the fruits;
  • Biamniotic bichorial - can be found in fraternal and identical twins, if the division of the fertilized cell occurred no later than three days; in this example, each fetus will have a separate placenta and watery membrane.

It is possible to identify these parameters, and therefore to establish the fact of carrying twins, only with the help of functional research methods - in most cases, we are talking about ultrasound.

Definition of twins without ultrasound

Ultrasound is the most accurate, but not the only method of detecting twins in a pregnant woman at an early stage. That is, up to about 10 weeks, twins can only be determined by conducting a functional study. But after 11 weeks, twins can be identified by the following signs:

  • during a gynecological examination of a pregnant woman;
  • when monitoring the progress of uterine enlargement: if the indicators are at least twice as fast as the standard ones, there is every reason to believe that future mother twins will appear;
  • in laboratory diagnostics, if the analysis of hCG ( chorionic gonadotropin person) is several times higher than the upper limit of the norm;
  • when listening to the fetal heartbeat after 22 weeks, while on an ultrasound scan, it is possible to find out that two hearts are beating in the uterus at once, from the 6th week of pregnancy.

It is believed that a sign of multiple pregnancy is severe toxicosis. Theoretically, this opinion is justified: two fetuses secrete more toxins into the mother's blood than one. But in practice, the severity of toxicosis depends on individual factors: the state of health and lifestyle of the mother. In addition, it is difficult to determine what is taken as a unit of reference when the concepts of "more" and "less" are applied to such an area as subjective sensations.

In this regard, we can safely say that the state of health with toxicosis is a very dubious sign indicating the presence of twins. Therefore, it is more correct to entrust modern medical standards and visit an ultrasound office.

The definition of twins and twins is carried out by such a productive research method as ultrasound. This type of examination provides information about the location of the child, whether there is a multiple pregnancy, etc.

As a rule, two embryos are clearly identified on ultrasound from the earliest weeks - 5-7. Later, the doctor is able to determine this without the use of ultrasound diagnostics. Twins can be detected by such a sign as an increased size of the uterus, already from the early stages, and medical diagnostics using ultrasound will show two children only at 1 screening - at 10-14 weeks.

Multiple pregnancies are the development of two or more fetuses in a woman's uterus, which can be recognized by ultrasound.

At what stage of pregnancy can twins be identified?

Twins will appear on ultrasound from 5 weeks

If during the examination in the initial weeks, the obstetrician-gynecologist notes larger size uterus than expected, the doctor prescribes an ultrasound examination. In this case, an ultrasound of embryos will show the presence of twins as early as 5 weeks, especially with the use of highly sensitive 3D scanning sensors. The examination makes it possible to identify twins only for a period of 9-11 weeks.

Can an ultrasound diagnostician make a mistake and not see twins? Yes, it happens. Common causes of error are: the use of an ultrasound machine that is too old, a late examination (in the last weeks), or when the first ultrasound scan was missed. Old equipment is not capable of high-quality visualization, since the length of the emitted ultrasonic signal is not sufficient for scanning in recent months.

Therefore, the presence of twins in the womb is detected by ultrasound already a month after conception, in the picture they look like 2 dark-colored formations inside the uterine cavity (see photo of ultrasound examination of twins below).

  • Ultrasound diagnostics of twins after 11 weeks shows the size of the first and second fetus slightly reduced for their developmental period - approximately 4.2-4.8 cm.
  • When examined at 12 weeks, the embryos are 6 cm long and weigh approximately 8 grams.
  • At 20 weeks, babies weigh 350 grams. You may notice that one child is larger than the second. This is due to a blood shunt through which there is a constant discharge of blood to one of the two fetuses.
  • After 32-34 weeks, babies gain weight up to 2 kg.

You can see twins on an ultrasound scan during pregnancy within a month after conception. In this case, the specialist will mark two black spots on the monitor screen, which are clearly visible with ultrasound.

Characteristics of multiple pregnancies

Reasons that indirectly affect the probable multiple pregnancy:

  • a pregnant woman over 35 years old;
  • female heredity;
  • deviations in the structure of the uterus;
  • IVF pregnancy;
  • pregnancy after giving up oral contraceptives;
  • unnatural (artificial) stimulation of ovulation.

Types of multiple births:

  • by the number of embryos: twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.;
  • by the number of fertilized eggs;
  • by the number of formed placentas and amniotic membranes.

Types by the number of fertilized eggs:

  • Two oocytes: born when two eggs are fertilized. The appearance of two children of the same or opposite sex is characteristic.
  • Identical (having twins). The birth of identical twins occurs when one egg is fertilized. Babies are born only of the same sex.

Types by the number of placentas and amniotic membranes:

  • Bichorial biamniotic twins - both embryos are wrapped in separate placenta and amniotic membranes. There may be the development of fraternal and identical twins, if the cleavage of one egg is three days after conception.
  • Monochorionic biamniotic - embryos are separated by two amniotic membranes, but are in the same placenta, the septum between the fetuses has two layers. This kind of twins will be exactly identical when the egg is cleaved between 3 and 8 days after conception.
  • Monochorionic monoamniotic - one placenta and one amniotic membrane for two fetuses, the interfetal membrane is not present. This twins are only monozygotic, they develop when one egg is cleaved from 8 to 13 days after conception.


If the doctor sees twins (regardless of the type to which they are), this is always a big surprise for the parents-to-be.

Determination of twins without the use of ultrasound

It is possible to determine the presence of two (or more) children in the womb without using an ultrasound examination at a later date or at the time of childbirth with the following signs:

  • increased size of the uterus compared to the expected period of pregnancy;
  • probing gave a double number of small and large parts of the body during an external gynecological examination;
  • listening to heart sounds in different parts belly.

There are several ways to identify two babies without an ultrasound:

  1. Blood test for hCG. The result of the analysis will determine the indicators to be somewhat overestimated. This means that the level of the hormone is a couple of times higher than when carrying one baby. Since the boundaries of this hormone are very large, only a doctor can conclude that possible pregnancy two kids.
  2. Feeling the abdomen by the doctor and listening to heart sounds. The heart beats already at 6 weeks, but you can hear it only on an ultrasound examination. You can listen to it through your belly from 22 weeks. If experts say that in different parts of the uterus heart sounds differ, which have a dissimilar frequency, and in the gap there is an area where the heartbeat is inaudible, this is a direct sign of multiple pregnancies in the early stages, even without the use of ultrasound. When palpating the abdomen, you can feel 2 large parts - this is the head and the pelvis. If the doctors said that two heads and two pelvis are clearly felt, then the conclusion is obvious.
  3. Among women, there is a sign by which twins are supposedly determined. It is believed that severe toxicosis is a clear confirmation of this. In some cases, this may coincide, as the level of toxins rises when a woman is expecting two babies.

What is the best way to identify twins on your own? If it is visually visible that the belly is growing rapidly and no longer corresponds to the dimensional indicators of its term, then this may be evidence of two babies.



It is possible to identify multiple pregnancies without resorting to ultrasound. One proven way is to listen to your heart rate.

Features of bearing twins

The specificity of observation includes the following points, which are discussed by many experts:

  1. Frequent visits to the gynecologist: 2 times a month up to 30 weeks, 1 time in 7-10 days after 31 weeks.
  2. Weight gain tracking. With multiple pregnancies, the body's need for vitamins, minerals, and calories increases significantly. Weight gain should not exceed 20-22 kg.
  3. It is necessary to take medications containing iron to prevent anemia. Multivitamins are also prescribed for consumption throughout the entire 9 months. Limiting excessive physical activity, rashes, an hour break from activities in the middle of the day
  4. Control observations by a gynecologist for changes in the cervix.
  5. Regular ultrasound examination for early detection of intrauterine growth retardation.
  6. Periodic monitoring of the structure and condition of the placenta, the volume of amniotic fluid.
  7. Preventive use of medicines against placental insufficiency (courantil, methionine), gestosis (magne B6), miscarriage (ginipral, magne B6).

Possible complications

Multiple pregnancy is a big burden for the female body. At the same time, the pressure on the circulatory system, digestion and respiration increases excessively, the risk of extragenital diseases increases (6 times). The main types of complications are:

  • intensification of chronic diseases;
  • preeclampsia and a general deterioration in the woman's health (occurs at the initial stage and passes with severe complications);
  • a sharp decrease in hemoglobin, anemia is likely;
  • intrauterine developmental lag in one or both fetuses.

Ultrasound diagnostics in multiple pregnancies is carried out more often than when carrying a single fetus. This is associated with an increased risk of complications. An additional ultrasound examination before childbirth is mandatory, it makes it possible to determine the prenatal preparation (since you can often see the incorrect position of twins in the womb). If a woman is told on an ultrasound that she has twins, she needs to undergo ultrasound diagnostics at least once in a well-equipped medical institution.