twin question

[jessicafairy]

I'm not a birth professional but I thought you all might be able to satisfy my curiousity. How early can signs/symptoms of twins occur? What would they be? What would cause mom (or midwife) to suspect multiples? And whats the earliest you would be suspicious?

Let's assume (for clarity) not a first time mom, no history of twins in the family.

Thanks!

[onlyboys]

Well, you'd look for a fundal height higher than one would expect for gestational age, increased nausea or vomiting, excessive movement, possible anemia, voracious appetite, palpation of 3 or more large parts, auscultation of two or more heartbeats distinct from moms. Also, I think I'd factor in maternal intuition, though I've heard Pamamidwife say that moms often think they are having twins when they are really not.

I'm not a midwife, but I am a student midwife.

[MamaRabbit]

I'd say 99% of the moms who think they're having twins end up not. And then a large percentage of those with twins didn't suspect at all.

I suspected twins around 11wk or so, but knew full well that it most likely wasn't. And then it was...

[Jane]

The earliest twin sympton is usually hyperemesis. If someone is to the point of needing an IV for rehydration, the care provider should think of twins. Not that twin mommies have more nausea, but they are overrepresented in the group of people with bad nausea. That could happen as early as 6 weeks or so.

In my experience, most people who wonder about twins are doing so b/c they are showing sooner than they expected. But the uterus isn't really bigger upon palpation, and they aren't really having twins. Their abdomen is just experienced and knows what to do next.

Most supicious sign- jumping fundal heights. Instead of jumping 1 cm per week, it's jumping 2-4 cm per week, especially after 14-16 weeks.