5 Weeks Pregnant With Twins or Multiples

Congratulations! You have reached the 5th week of your pregnancy and the adventurous ride has begun! During pregnancy, your body will go through a lot of changes and these changes will be more pronounced if you are pregnant with twins or multiple babies. Although at 5 weeks women don’t know whether they are expecting twins or more, many women pregnant expecting twins or multiples suspect it from the start. If that is the case with you, you should most definitely learn about the signs and symptoms of twin pregnancy. You are in the initial stage of your pregnancy and we know it can be a little frustrating for you. But when you find out how your little ones will grow in your womb, you will feel much better.

When Can Twins Be Detected?

If you suspect that you are expecting twins, you must be eager to find out the same. But twin pregnancy or multiple pregnancy can be detected only if the twins or multiple babies are present in their own separate sacs of placement. Detecting heartbeats at this stage and separating them is difficult during this time. Babies who share a common sac can be difficult to detect since their heartbeats coalesce pretty much with each other. So, it may not be possible to detect twin pregnancy at the 5th week of pregnancy. But when you reach the 6th week of your pregnancy, it will be easier for your doctor to detect the heartbeats of your babies as the babies tend to have their own sacs by this stage and their separate heartbeats can be observed. Going for an early scan should be opted only if you are ready to pay the premium price for it.

The Growth of the Babies at 5 Weeks

At about 5 weeks of pregnancy, the babies tend to be the size of a slightly larger seed. The ultrasound scan reveals the shape to similar to a tadpole, which will slowly take a human form over the coming weeks. Covered with layers of endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm, the embryos begin to develop into various body parts. Your babies’ teeth, hair, genital organs, nails, nervous system, blood, intestines, and numerous other parts will begin to form gradually. The neural tubes of the babies begin to seal off and the portion in the upper part of the tube will start to take the shape of a cranial skull. The yolk present in the egg of the particular baby will be used to initiate the umbilical cord’s source, which will provide the nutrition and oxygen required for the development of the babies.

What Is the Size of the Babies?

At around 5 weeks of your pregnancy, your babies will be too small. Most babies at this stage are similar to the size of tadpoles. Your little ones will mostly be around the size of a seed.

Common Bodily Changes

For most women, this is the stage when the signs and symptoms of pregnancy become evident. When a woman is pregnant with twins, these changes will be more profound. A bunch of changes will be common, irrespective of the babies you are carrying.

• At times, you may not face any symptom as such except for nausea.

• Your breasts may start getting even more sensitive and tender as the hormonal levels keep fluctuating. Oestrogen and progesterone hormones begin to ramp up rapidly within the body. This also leads to accumulation of fat layer on and around the breasts as well as a boost the circulation of blood towards the breasts, which causes their size to increase, thus making them softer.

• Hormonal fluctuations during this time may also make a woman salivate more. These might be stronger in women pregnant with multiples. Chewing on gums that are safe for pregnant women can help keep this in check.

Symptoms of Twin Pregnancy at 5 Weeks

Whether you are expecting one baby or twins, the signs and symptoms of pregnancy will mostly be the same. You can expect the following symptoms at 5 weeks of your pregnancy.

1. Fatigue and Exhaustion

If you are pregnant with twins, fatigue and exhaustion will be your constant companions. The presence of multiple babies can take a toll on your body; you may feel extremely tired and exhausted. Taking proper rest combined with some easy exercises should help you feel better.

2. Frequent Urination

The presence of multiple babies may make your uterus quite large within a short period of time. This enlargement can make its presence felt on the bladder, leading it to contract a bit in order to make space for the uterus. Since this contraction results in the bladder being able to hold a smaller amount of urine, you might have to visit the loo frequently. Whenever you have the urge to urinate, don’t hold in or else it might lead to bladder infections.

3. Morning Sickness

You can expect nausea and vomiting at any time of the day. Being pregnant with twins or multiples can make it worse for some women. Morning sickness may become a misnomer since the feeling of nausea tends to come and go throughout the day at random times. And nausea may become even stronger with passing weeks, which can be quite frustrating for many. Have small but frequent meals to combat this problem effectively.

4. Acidity

If you are expecting more than one baby, they can put pressure on the stomach, and the stomach acids may get pushed upwards in the oesophagus. Hormonal changes during this time can also relax the valve which keeps the stomach acids out of the oesophagus. While antacids are pretty good at alleviating such issues, going for a light walk after a meal can help with the symptoms substantially.

5. A Stuffy Nose

During pregnancy, the blood circulation within a woman’s body increases. It reaches and impacts all the parts of the body, including the nose as well. This can make it feel quite stuffy since it stimulates the mucous membranes inside the nostrils and forms a lot of sticky substance.

6. Bleeding Nose and Gums

You can expect your nose and gums to bleed from time to time. This is common especially if a woman in case of the multiple pregnancies. Increase in blood volume and surge in hormones during this time can dilate the network of blood vessels in the nose and mouth, which may make your nose bleed. Your gums may bleed too after brushing.

7. Breathlessness and Hypertension

Women expecting multiple babies may feel out of breath many times of the day and such sensation may keep getting worse as the pregnancy progresses. The increase in the supply of blood and the drop in the blood pressure can result in such a situation, which can also make the heart beat faster.

Twin Pregnancy – Belly at 5 Weeks

Your belly will be a bit larger than before and the weight you gain during this time would be more as compared to the weight gained by a woman expecting only one baby. Your doctor may also check the size of the uterus, which if larger than usual, will clearly indicate the presence of multiple babies.

Twin Pregnancy at 5 Weeks – Ultrasound

Usually, an ultrasound scan is not conducted unless and until a woman reaches the 11th week of her pregnancy. Ultrasound scans performed during this time can help your doctor determine the approximate date of delivery. She may also conduct other tests to rule out the presence of any disorder or developmental issues. Any scan that is conducted prior to completing 8 weeks of pregnancy is usually done internally instead of the usual external method. In such a case, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina of the woman to get the images of the babies on the monitor. Such a technique makes it easier to obtain clearer and better images of the multiple babies present in the womb.

What to Eat

Being pregnant with twins can take a toll on your health and that’s why you should eat healthy during this time. Since you are expecting multiple babies, your appetite will increase rapidly and you may have intense hunger pangs frequently. Have small but frequent meals but stick to a healthy diet. Don’t opt for a weight-loss programme or restrict any food items, since your babies need everything they can get.

Tips to Take Care of Yourself During Pregnancy

Taking a few tips into account to keep yourself safe in this phase of pregnancy will help you stay healthy and happy for the weeks and months to come.

Do’s

• Talk to your doctor and take the prescribed prenatal vitamins regularly.
• Go for dental checkups and rule out any conditions that could complicate your pregnancy.
• Stick to a healthy diet and start with some light exercises to keep yourself healthy.

Don’ts

• While giving in to your cravings once in a while is good, do your best to stay away from any kind of meat products that are undercooked or raw. Infections of any sort can be fatal to the developing babies.
• Don’t over-stress yourself at your workplace or at home or it might affect you and your baby. Relax and enjoy this beautiful phase!

What You Need to Shop For

Your belly will start increasing in size in the coming weeks. So now would be a good time to go out and purchase a maternity dress that would be comfortable for you. Also, start investing in skirts or other flowy dresses that would go with the seasons to come.

Being 5 weeks pregnant with twins is quite an achievement in itself. The initial stages of pregnancy can seem tough, especially if you are pregnant for the first time. But you must know that this phase will pass soon. Stay calm and focus on the outcome. In no time, you will have your baby. Meanwhile, stay happy and eat healthy, and you will have healthy babies!

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