Curious what it’s like to be 4 weeks pregnant with twins? At 4 weeks of pregnancy, I had no idea I was carrying two babies but I did notice many things were different than with my first pregnancy.
My husband and I always envisioned having two children. When our first child was about 18 months old we decided to start trying for a second baby and soon I was 4 weeks pregnant with twins…though I didn’t know yet I was carrying twins!!
Trying to Get Pregnant
We got pregnant with twins the same way we got pregnant with our first child, a single pregnancy. This included tracking my cycle, having sex every 2 days, and so on. If you want more details, check out this blog post: How We Got Pregnant With Twins.
Month 1 of Trying
The first month of trying for baby #2, we didn’t get pregnant.
I wasn’t surprised since I know we were so very lucky to get pregnant the first month trying with our first. I was a little apprehensive though, wondering if I’d be able to get pregnant again but figured it just didn’t happen that first month.
Month 2 of Trying
The second month of trying proved to be successful!!
Unlike with my first pregnancy, a single baby, I could EASILY tell right away when I took a home pregnancy test that it was a positive pregnancy test the day of my missed period. The line was very dark on the test, which surprised me, but I didn’t think much of it.
We didn’t learn we were pregnant with twins until my early ultrasound during my first trimester around 8 weeks of pregnancy. That’s when it all started to make sense!
4 Weeks of Pregnancy with Twins – Development
At 4 weeks of pregnancy, fertilization already occurred at 3 weeks when a sperm and egg combine to create a zygote. By 4 weeks of pregnancy, the zygote turns into a blastocyst and implants into the uterine lining. Once your healthcare provider tells you the type of twins you’re carrying, you’ll know more about the risk of complications and appointment schedule to expect.
If you’re having fraternal twins, they were created by separate eggs and separate sperm. If you’re having identical twins, they came from one egg and one sperm, a zygote that separated by now.
Depending on when they separated, you’ll either have DiDi, MoDi, or MoMo twins. Some identical twins have their own amniotic sacs like mine did but share a placenta whereas others have separate placentas and their own amniotic sacs. If you want to know more about the different types of twins, check out my blog post about the different types of twins.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms at 4 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
As I mentioned in the headline of this blog post, I had no idea I was carrying twins at 4 weeks of pregnancy. I just knew that I was pregnant.
Some early pregnancy symptoms I was feeling include I already was feeling that my hair was getting thicker than usual, especially since I generally have very fine hair.
I also noticed that I was already getting a baby bump which seemed early, but then again I know it’s common to get bigger faster with a second pregnancy.
My energy level was already lower than it had been before I got pregnant and I was having breast tenderness and tender nipples already, which was a bummer especially since I was still breastfeeding my oldest child a couple of times a day.
I also became nauseous and sensitive to different foods and smells earlier than I remember with my first child.
My weight at that time was near my ideal weight at 116 lbs (I’m only 5’1″) but with my growing belly I knew that’d be rising soon.
I was really excited to be pregnant again as I loved my first pregnancy, I felt great in the second trimester and loved feeling baby moving inside of me.
Already Nervous
I was a little nervous as pregnancy for me is already higher risk than most since I have hypothyroidism so I have to be carefully monitored to ensure the babies and I are getting adequate thyroid hormone replacement or they won’t survive.
I had advocated hard to get the healthcare I needed during my first pregnancy and knew I could again during this one. I had my thyroid levels checked right when I found out I was pregnant with twins and the levels already needed to be adjusted, which happened with my single pregnancy as well.
Before long I realized that I needed to advocate for my twins and I more than I had needed to advocate in my single pregnancy due to the higher risk of gestational diabetes, twin to twin syndrome, high blood pressure, birth defects, preterm labor, possible bed rest, and monitoring amniotic fluid, to name a few things to watch out for. I found out that I needed to see maternal-fetal medicine specialists in addition to my regular healthcare provider.
My healthcare provider wasn’t going to refer me until I was well into my second trimester but I read that I needed to be seen sooner due to the higher risk since my twins didn’t have their own placenta and needed to share nutrients and such. Luckily, my healthcare provider/OBGYN referred me to the maternal-fetal medicine specialists/perinatal physicians when I requested it.
Different Symptoms This Time
I wrote another blog post all about twin pregnancy symptoms, comparing my singleton pregnancy to my twin pregnancy, both before and after I knew I was having twins that goes into more detail as well.
Common twin pregnancy symptoms can be more intense due to increased hcg levels that comes with twin pregnancies. In the first trimester more intense symptoms such as morning sickness, increased weight gain, anxiety due to being more high risk, and so much more are common.
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As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.