Your doubly precious pregnancy has officially entered double digits. Expecting triplets or quadruplets? We’re multiplying our excitement for you accordingly! Let’s talk ten weeks pregnant with multiples!
Last week, your babies’ embryonic tails disappeared, and their body parts became more easily identifiable. By now, your babies have completed the most significant portion of their first trimester development.
Your little ones are now working to grow and strengthen their bodies, which have taken on that adorable baby shape!
How do twins and other multiples happen?
Finding out you’re expecting multiples can come as quite a surprise! Most multiple pregnancies aren’t visible on an ultrasound until between 6 and 8 weeks of gestation, so likely, you’ve only just caught wind of the news. It’s normal to feel ecstatic, nervous, or just plain overwhelmed when you find out you’re expecting multiples, especially if this is an unexpected surprise.
Multiple pregnancies happen in a few different ways. You’ll get a better understanding of your babies’ origin story when your provider identifies their arrangement within their sacs. Keep reading to find out more.
Identical twins (triplets, and beyond) happen when a single fertilized egg (zygote) divides into two or more identical zygotes. Multiples who are identical have the same exact genetic material; this means they will be of the same physical sex, and their appearance will be, well, identical — or very close to it!
This type of pregnancy happens simply by chance, so identical multiples do not run in families. Depending upon when in the process the zygote splits, your babies may share both layers of their sacs (amnion and chorion) and be in the same space as each other without any separating membrane. In this case, they would also share a single placenta. In other cases, they may have separate amniotic sacs (inner layers) but share the same chorion (outer layer of the sac). And in some cases, they may each have their own amnion, chorion, and placenta.
Fraternal multiples happen when more than one egg is released during ovulation, and each is fertilized by a different sperm cell. Because fraternal multiples come from their own eggs, they’re no more similar genetically than other full siblings. Fraternal twins, triplets, and even quadruplets have their own placentas and amniotic sacs, as well as chorionic sacs.
That said, it’s possible you could be carrying a mix of identical and fraternal multiples! For example, if one egg split in half but you released multiple eggs during ovulation, you could have two identical (twins) and one fraternal triplet.
What are your babies up to this week?
Your little ones have developed identifiable limbs and lost their embryonic tails, making them clearly recognizable as babies on an ultrasound. At 10 weeks, they are just shy of an inch long and weigh approximately 0.14 ounces each — roughly the size of a strawberry! The skin covering their bodies is still translucent, but they’re now able to bend their limbs. They’re also beginning to develop finer details, like tiny fingernails.
What can I expect from a twin or multiple pregnancy?
Hearing you’re carrying multiples can certainly come as a shock. By now, you’ll be able to see your babies on an ultrasound and hear their heartbeats. Whether you’re overjoyed or overwhelmed (or a mix of both), know your feelings are valid. We’re here to offer support!
People carrying multiples will have a greater amount of healthcare visits and ultrasounds than those who are pregnant with singletons. These visits are to ensure you and your babies are healthy! Multiples may pose a higher risk of certain complications, so it’s essential to attend all scheduled appointments and follow your provider’s guidelines closely.
It’s not just your imagination if you feel like your morning sickness symptoms are amplified. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that multiple pregnancies bring about more severe symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Luckily, your symptoms should begin to wane after the first trimester, and you’ve almost reached that milestone. You’ve got this!
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Multifetal gestation: Twin, triplet, and higher order multifetal pregnancies.” National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, Updated December 17 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/twin-pregnancy/art-20048161.
- “FAQ: Multiple pregnancy.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, July 2015. Last reviewed: May 2025.
