Every Nigerian mother wants to be a mother of twins or multiples.

Let’s be honest, who would not want to kill two birds with one stone. Nine months and then you have two or more children?

Who no sabi good thing? Hehe.

One question we seem to always get from our readers is ‘How do you know if you are carrying twins?’

Well we have answers for you. Please read on!

First before we get down to the ‘koko’ of the matter, ask yourself these questions.

• Am I over 30?
• Did I conceive with the help of fertility treatments or IVF
• Do twins run in my side of the family (mother)?
• Am I of Nigerian or African descent and most particularly am I from Igbo-Ora?
• Am I tall and/or overweight?
• Have I been pregnant several times before?

(RELATED: What Are Your Chances Of Giving Birth To Twins?)

If you can answer Yes to any of this questions then read on…

The following are the most common early symptoms of twin or multiple pregnancies.

Weight gain

While normal weight gain is to be expected in pregnancy, this does not happen so fast so early. A rapid and early weight gain during the first trimester often indicates a multiple pregnancy.

This extra weight is due not only to the babies’ combined weights but also the extra tissue, fluid and blood volume a mother is producing to support two babies. Most women who are pregnant with twins will gain between 15 – 20 kgs as opposed to the usual 12 -16 kgs.

High hCG Levels

A blood pregnancy test will usually be done at your first antenatal visit. A blood PT measures your hCG levels. According to the American Pregnancy Association, hCG is a hormone produced in pregnancy that should double every 72 hours during the 8th-11th weeks of pregnancy.

If your hCG level is very high, especially after a couple of tests, there is a good chance that you may be pregnant with twins.

Measuring large for gestational age

At each antenatal check-up you attend, you will have your uterus measured to check your growth. Measuring large for your gestational age is a possible indicator that you are expecting twins. Although, other possible causes may be a miscalculated due date, an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, or the presence of uterine fibroids.

Severe morning sickness symptoms

While morning sickness is a common side effect of pregnancy, almost all women carrying multiple babies report suffering from morning sickness and their symptoms tend to be more severe than their counterparts, who are carrying just one baby.

Keep in mind, however, that some women experience excessive morning sickness even with one baby. This is a potentially serious condition known as Hyperemises Gravidarum.

Extreme fatigue

While most women experience fatigue in their first trimester of pregnancy, women who are carrying twins often report a tiredness that never lifts and cannot be ignored. This is why lots of bed rest is recommended in early and late multiple pregnancies.

Early foetal movements

While most pregnant women report feeling very first foetal movements, also known as quickening, between 18 – 22 weeks, women who are pregnant with multiples often report feeling those first exciting movements at around 16 weeks. This may be due to the fact that there is less room for the babies to move around.

Intuition

You might find it hard to believe but its true. Some women just ‘know’ that they’re carrying more than one baby long before they have the fact confirmed by a doctor.

While it would be nice to confirm early that you are carrying twins or multiples, in the end, the only way to know for sure whether or not you’re pregnant with twins is to wait until you go for an ultrasound scan.