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?
Multiples are conceived in a few different ways. As you get closer to the end of the first trimester, your healthcare provider will give you a better insight into how you conceived your multiples and whether they’re fraternal or identical.
If you’re having identical multiples, this means a single fertilized egg divided into two or more identical eggs. In this case, your multiples will have the same genetic makeup and will be very similar in appearance. They will also be of the same biological sex.
An interesting tidbit about identical multiples is they happen totally by chance, so they don’t typically run in families. More fun facts? Unless the egg split at just the right moment, your multiples will share a placenta. Your babies will, however, most likely have their own amniotic sacs.
When more than one egg is released during ovulation, fraternal multiples occur. Fraternal multiples come from their own eggs and share no more genetic likeness than other full siblings. While they’ll share a birthday, the similarities may end there. It’s also possible they’ll be different biological sexes. Fraternal multiples will each have their own placentas and amniotic sacs.
Did you know you could also be carrying a mix of identical and fraternal multiples? This rarity takes place when one egg splits in half to create identical multiples, but you’ve released more than one egg during ovulation. If you’re not sure what you’re having yet, rest assured you’ll be able to find out soon enough!
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 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
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, December 13 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021. 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. Retrieved May 15 2021.
