Possible Twin Pregnancy: What to Do at 15 Weeks

Question
Hello,

I am a mother of two (a 2 1/2 yr old and a 1 yr old) and pregnant again. I am 15 weeks pregnant and suspect that I am having twins. What should I do?

It all started in november 06 when I suspected that I was pregnant. I went to my Ob/Gyn and she said that my HCG level was 2 and that I wasnt pregnant. Dissappointed, I went home with out an ultrasound. Then, 4 weeks later I had missed my period so I went back to my doctor to see what was wrong. This time, she said I was pregnant and we did an ultrasound. She determined that, at that time, I was 6 wks and two days. Since then I have had extreme morning sickness (at my last weigh in I lost 5 lbs), a horrible bladder infection (I had bleeding and small blood clots and I went to 2 emergency room visits and a doctor visit before I went to a different hospital emergency room and finally got and antibiotic--the first hospital told me that I had "threatened miscarriage"), a very painful staph infection on my face, and now my morning sickness has gotten worse and requires nausia medication along with almost constant heartburn. All of which I have never experienced with my first two children. Also, I get winded easily, I felt the baby move very early in pregnancy (since I was 3 months), I look huge for only being almost 4 months (I look about 6 months),  and have been extremely exhausted the entire pregnancy. For all of these reasons combined, along with mothers' intuition, I believe that I am carrying twins. When I asked my doctor about it last week, he (the doctor standing in for my usual doctor) said that we can schedual an ultrasound in 6 weeks--like regular-- to check on the baby and the organs and to see if everything is as it should be. This answer was very dissapionting to me.

So, My questions to you are:
1. Is my suspition valid? Do I really have a chance of having twins?
2.Is there anything that I should be doing different, if I am carrying twins, that I should be aware of?
3.How and when are multiples usually diagnosed?

Thank you for your time,
Ashly

Answer
Dear Ashly.

Twins can be, and most often are, diagnosed as early as that 6 week ultrasound when two sacs and two heartbeats are seen. Two heartbeats can also sometimes be picked up with a doppler if there is one they can use in the office.

Every pregnancy is different. It sounds as if you have had a very stressful time with this pregnancy - physically, mentally, and emotionally. I'm not surprised that you are more tired, nauseated, and generally having more of the pregnancy symptoms with this one than the others.

Mother's intuition is definitely a valid phenomenon. Now whether that means you are having twins, I can't say for sure. The next time you go in for a doctor visit, ask your doctor if your fundal measurements are within normal for the week of your pregnancy. I know you said you feel like you are much bigger than with the other pregnancies at this point, but it may be a matter of perception. Normally, if you are quite a bit bigger, the doctor will pick that up in the fundal height and begin suspecting twins.

There is nothing you should be doing differently at this point. Just keep yourself as healthy as possible, just as you would with any pregnancy.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your questions. I wish you well.

Brenda