QuestionHello Brenda, well the reason why I think that my babies are older is because 5 weeks after me and my hubby had sex on July 8, 2006 my breast was really big and sore and I have read in many places that, breast tenderness is the first sign of pregnancy and it begins around that time then at 8 weeks I started getting nauseated, also I feel a lot of movement and strong kicks and poks instead of soft flutters.
Thanks
Trina
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
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Hello, my name is Trina and I am 20 years old and pregnant with twins. I am wondering how old my babies are, I had a period on June 27, 2006 lasting through July 4, 2006 me and my lover had sex on July 8, 2006 and thats 4 days after my period. Counting 19 days after that period I had another period on July 24, 2006. Then on August 7, 2006 I had sex again, but about a week later I started having prenancy symptoms. Now the doctors tell me I am 4months because they are going off my last period but I also know that some woman while they are pregnant still have a period and I am wondering did that happen to me because I believe that I am 5 months?
P.S The doctors also told me one twin is 2 days older
Thank You
Trina
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Dear Trina,
I assume that you have had an ultrasound and that the results of that are what the doctor is confirming his/her dates on.
Actually, the most fertile days during your cycle are approximately days 11-21. Although the possibility is there for you to become pregnant at any time during your cycle, you are much more likely to conceive during this time.
The sexual encounter on 7/8 would have been on day 12, but it was after an 8 day period. Your most likely ovulation date (and most likely date of conception) between 6/27 and 7/24 (30 day cycle) would have been 7/14. Your fertile window was 7/9-7/19.
Now, as for your sexual encounter on 8/7 - based on LMP starting on 7/24, your fertile window (again based on 30 day cycle) would have been 8/5-8/15 with and estimated conception date of approximately 8/10.
Since the latter sexual encounter actually took place within your "fertile time" and closer to when you would have ovulated, I'd guess that that is when you conceived. Especially if that date has been confirmed by ultrasound measurements. Plus - you began having pregnancy symptoms after that.
Usually if a woman has had a period that first month of pregnancy, it is much lighter than normal or shorter in duration than what is actually normal for her. And sometimes women mistake a period for what is called implantation bleeding, which typically occurs 6-12 days after conception, and that is usually pretty light.
I hope this helps you. Sometimes mothers have an intuition, but as far as these dates are concerned, I'm not sure what is swaying your thoughts. If I've missed something about your reasons for thinking the doctors are off on dates - please write back and let me know!
Brenda
AnswerDear Trina,
Pregnancy with twins often causes the symptoms of pregnancy to be more intense and often happen earlier than they would in a single fetus pregnancy. This is likely because of higher levels of hCG and other hormones circulating through their system. Very often breast tenderness will be more pronounced in twin pregnancies, as will morning sickness.
The feeling of movement earlier than normal is also typical in multiple pregnancies. Doctors tend to disagree about this, but many moms of twins will tell you that they felt more than flutters or "gas bubbles" earlier than doctors or books said they should.
If the doctor's dates have been confirmed by ultrasound, I would trust those dates. I think the symptoms which are making you wonder about your due date are more about your twin pregnancy than about the dates. Having two in there is double the prize, but it's doubly scrunched-up too! You're bound to feel much more throughout the entire pregnancy than you would if there were only one.
I wish you well and I hope this helped ease your mind! :-)
Brenda
