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8-Weeks Pregnant with Twins Ultrasound: All you Need to Know

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Once you find out you’ll be a parent, you want to know everything: will it be a girl? A boy? Could they be twins? Will I be able to put these super cute onesies on them? You will ask yourself lots of questions, and worst of all, you will not have the answers right away. And we get it: not being sure of what will come can be a bit distressing, especially if you are someone who loves to have everything well planned.

Fortunately, you stepped into this article… Congratulations! Here you’ll find many answers to your questions although, to tell the truth, your doubts will only be resolved when you have your first ultrasound in your first prenatal, which you can do in week 8 of pregnancy to have a result that can be considered reliable.

Is the 8-week Ultrasound the Best Way to Know if You’re Having Twins?

Plain and simple: Yes. Ultrasound is the best way to find out if you will be the mother of one child, twins or if it will be multiple births. You can do it on week 8 or a few weeks later to be more certain, depending on how much you can handle curiosity. Is it infallible? No. There have been cases where one embryo covers the other and it is impossible to see more than one. But that is exceptional. Normally, the doctor will be able to give you definitive information.

when do you find out the gender of twins

Anyways, you shouldn’t worry. It’s not that you’ll find out the day of delivery. During the pregnancy there will be at least 2 more ultrasounds -each one should be done every three months- to monitor the baby and with them, you’ll be able to confirm the information that you got in the first ultrasound appointment.

What is Ultrasound Used For?

Ultrasound is a technique that uses sound waves to show images of the baby inside the womb. To do this, a conductive gel is smeared on the expectant mother’s belly, and then a small handheld scanner is slid over the gel. Be careful: the gel can be very cold -don’t say no one warned you.

Note that ultrasound can also be performed intravaginally. It is done, more than anything, in the early stages: between weeks 6 and 7 to check that the implantation of the embryo has occurred correctly and confirm the pregnancy.

What you Will See During the 8-Weeks Pregnant with Twins Ultrasound

Precisely during week 8, the passage from embryo to fetus is ending. If they are twins, you’ll see two embryos forming -and there, you’ll finally be able to know the answer to your big question-. As for the gender, it won’t be possible to determine since the organs are still being formed and the embryos will be very small. You may have to wait until week 22 to find out.

You will be able to see the creation of new organs and tissues. Babies’ hearts will be at 150 beats per minute -twice as fast as yours- and certain features will start to appear defined: the cells of the teeth will have already begun to develop as well as their palates. They will have bulging parts on their heads that will become their ears, and vital organs such as their brains, livers, and kidneys will develop more each day.

8 weeks pregnant with twins ultrasound

You will see one-third of an inch long embryos: the size of a raspberry. And from there, only growth: almost a millimeter every day! Each one will weigh about 0.04 ounces and from there you will start to feel an increasing weight.

Their skin is as thin as paper and you’ll be able to distinguish their arms and legs, as well as their hands and feet; their little fingers will still be forming, though.

Is Ultrasound Safe?

Yes. Most studies have shown that the limited use of ultrasound during pregnancy will not harm any baby. According to the FDA and ACOG, there is no evidence that this technique can damage a developing fetus. Also, these aren’t tests that use x-rays or radiation, so there is nothing to worry about.

However, scientists aren’t entirely sure whether long exposures to ultrasound can be dangerous. Therefore, your visits will be controlled and safe. Experts are convinced that you can rest easy, especially with this technology since it has worked for millions of mothers for more than 40 years. As a matter of fact, today it is unthinkable not to use this technique during pregnancy.

Should you Simply Trust the Signs That You Are Having Twins?

Just as there are many mothers of twins who claim to have suspected that they would have two children at birth, there are many others who are totally caught off guard. So, it is very difficult to determine if, by the simple fact of feeling it or suspecting it, there will be twins. Let’s look at the different symptoms that mothers of twins feel.

Twin Pregnancy Symptoms

They are the same symptoms of a normal pregnancy, although many mothers mention that those are enhanced when dealing with twins. However, as we mentioned before, feeling them very strongly doesn’t automatically mean that you are going to have twins.

  • Bloating: the progesterone hormone that is produced in pregnancy causes your digestion to slow down, which will make you feel bloated.
  • More sickness in the morning: increased nausea and dizziness (more common during the first trimester of pregnancy).

is morning sickness worse with twins

  • Severe fatigue: drowsiness, numbness, and exhaustion.
  • Growth of the belly: this can be a sign of pregnancy of twins but just at the end of the pregnancy, not at the beginning.
  • Fetal movement earlier than normal: normally, it starts from week 18 to 25. Keep in mind that these movements can also be confused with gas or stomach aches.
  • Weight gain: the normal, in a twin pregnancy, is to have a weight 10 ounces higher than that of a normal pregnancy. However, this also varies greatly depending on the mother’s body type.
  • More frequent urination: You will feel the urge to urinate more and with more urgency due to the increased amount of blood flow in your body and the hormones of pregnancy.
  • Increase in vaginal discharge: remember that if you feel strong odors or abnormal consistency, you should mention it to your doctor.

If you feel these symptoms, don’t get ahead of yourself. It doesn’t mean that you are going to be a mother of beautiful twins! The best way to be sure is by performing an ultrasound to clear up doubts and not let yourself be carried away by hunches.

“But my Pregnancy Belly is Huge; it Must be Twins!”

There are multiple signs of twin pregnancy at 8 weeks. As mentioned before, a possible sign that you are going to be a mother of twins is the size of your belly. However, this should happen much later in the pregnancy. In the eighth week, the embryos are so small that it is normal for the belly to grow only a bit.

Many mothers of twins say that their bellies appeared after the first trimester of pregnancy. However, it wasn’t a giant belly, so much so that many couldn’t notice any pregnancy.

But, the big belly, which everyone will be able to see, will appear. That’s for sure! Use this lotion to avoid stretch marks during your pregnancy.

Tips for a Big Belly of Twins During the First Semester

– Sleep by side: It’s normal for many women to find it difficult to sleep on their stomachs long before the middle of their pregnancy. You will discover it naturally when it is not comfortable for you to sleep like this. 

– Don’t worry if your belly is very big: Let the doctor take care of it, he will always check your size and weight, and he will be the one to determine if something needs more attention.

multiple gestations

-Buy lots of pillows: for the office seat, for the car, for your house. They will help you relieve the back, foot, and extremity pain that you may feel.

-Get a prenatal massage: your doctor can recommend someone to do it.

-Get a maternity support belt. Trust us with this one!

-Buy a pregnancy pillow to sleep on. It’s a total game-changer.

-Put your feet up when they hurt.

-Wear loose pants or leggings.

8-Weeks Pregnant with Twins Ultrasound: Why It’s Important

Once you learn you are pregnant, you want to know everything about it: Will it be a boy? Will it be a girl? Or maybe twins? And the only way to find out is with an ultrasound. With the 8-weeks pregnant with twins ultrasound, you will be able to know if you are expecting twins and have the first real look at your babies. It’s possible that you may feel and be sure you are carrying twins but be careful: many mothers were wrong in the past. So, if you want to be sure, go for the ultrasound and follow our advice.

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