Twins in the belly: sizes and sensations of the expectant mother

Thoughts about pregnancy often lead to the appearance in the subconscious of a picture depicting an expectant mother with a large belly, where the baby is comfortably located. Having decided to give birth to a second child, every woman is puzzled by how much earlier than the first time she will begin to experience corresponding changes in appearance, and when her belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

General features of carrying a second child

All this is very important for the expectant mother. You need to figure out what exactly affects the period when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

Photos of women expecting the long-awaited birth of a baby and being at the same stage show differences in volume. During the first pregnancy, on average, the abdominal enlargement occurs between the 16th and 18th weeks. Slender lovers of tight clothes are “declassified” immediately. But those around her may not be aware of changes in the position of a curvaceous woman until she goes on maternity leave, that is, almost until the 25th week. It turns out: despite the fact that the uterus enlarges in everyone according to the same laws, outwardly this manifests itself in different ways.

Medical weight indicators for twins

Carrying twins is very difficult physically. Here everything is added twice as much: toxicosis, stress on the body, and, of course, kilograms. Typically, twin babies are not born at the same weight as a single full-term baby. The largest twins most often weigh 2.5 kilograms. Over the entire period, a woman should gain approximately 15-22 kilograms.

How should this happen correctly? If in the first quarter of pregnancy the expectant mother should gain one and a half to two kilograms, then in the second quarter she should gain up to seven hundred grams weekly. And in the same way, the expectant mother must remember to control her weight both independently and under obstetric supervision.

Why is my belly bigger the second time?

There are several other reasons that influence an increase in the abdominal circumference and, as a result, a change in a woman’s appearance:

1. Serial number of pregnancy. For the first time, the tummy will appear somewhere around the 20th week, sometimes a little later. When the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy, many mothers are surprised. After all, the second pregnancy will become noticeable earlier: at about 16 weeks. This happens because the abdominal muscles, which were quite stretched during the previous pregnancy, are no longer so elastic and are not able to hold an ever-expanding belly for a long time. Untrained muscles due to lack of physical activity before pregnancy also contribute to the early appearance of a belly.
2. Anatomy of a woman. Girls with narrow hips develop a belly earlier. This happens because the child simply has nowhere to sit in a narrow pelvis, so the uterus with all its contents (fetus and amniotic fluid) seems to bulge above the pelvis, and the tummy sticks out. But a woman’s wide hips allow her to “hide” the baby for the time being from prying eyes. In this case, the fetus may remain between the pelvic bones longer, and accordingly, the belly will appear later.
3. The location of the fetus in the uterus. The child in the mother's womb is also not always located in the same way. If he chose a place closer to the spine (the back wall of the uterus), the belly will appear later. In addition, the factor that determines when the belly begins to grow in the second pregnancy after a cesarean section is also influenced by the location of the baby in the mother's uterus. After an operative birth, you will again be able to notice the birth and development of a new life earlier than the first time.

4. Volume of amniotic fluid. Each woman has a different amount of amniotic fluid. If their volume is large, the belly will appear earlier.
5. Weight gain during pregnancy. Most often, pregnant women have a good appetite. And all the kilograms obtained in this way decorate the tummy with nice fat.
6. Fruit size. We should also not forget that each woman’s child develops differently: intensive fetal growth will cause the tummy to expand earlier. But at the end of pregnancy, this factor loses relevance. The second, third and fourth of the above points will come to the fore.
7. Hereditary factors. Strange as it may sound, heredity also to some extent influences the size, timing and shape of the abdomen. For every pregnant woman, this happens in much the same way as for her grandmother, aunt, or mother.

Development of twins by week: third trimester of pregnancy

• 32nd week - the formation of the skeleton is completed. The twins weigh about 1.5 kg, height up to 40 cm. Each fetus has its own sleep cycle. The bodies begin to catch up with the head in proportions, the pancreas begins to work
• 34th week - the expectant mother feels pain in almost the entire body, fatigue appears. If one of the babies falls head down, there is a slight relief because the stomach drops and stops putting pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs
• 36th week - nails protrude beyond the edges of the fingers, the formation of fat under the skin ends. Weight 2-2.5 kg, height up to 45 cm. Twins are smaller in size than one baby at this stage, but often their lungs and other body systems are more developed

Twins, third trimester

Anatomical specifics of a woman giving birth repeatedly

All of the above is fair and objective. Yet the scenarios for the development of the first and second pregnancies are different. The first birth brings irreversible changes to the female body. This fact allows us to identify the reasons that influence changes in the circumference of a woman’s abdomen.

If you want to know when the belly begins to grow during a second pregnancy, you should not take into account the reviews of mothers who have already given birth again. Just as when carrying your first child, the timing of the appearance of a tummy can vary significantly for each pregnant woman. However, generally, during the second pregnancy, the belly will become noticeable earlier by about 4–6 weeks, that is, those around you will be able to rejoice at the woman’s changed position a month faster.

The reason for this is that the uterus does not return to its original state after the first birth, which is quite normal. Therefore, in thin women, the tummy will begin to be visible at 12 weeks. And let friends and relatives vying with each other based on its shape about the gender of the baby who is about to be born!

Adding weight

Any woman can calculate the normal weight gain during pregnancy by week. It’s worth making a reservation right away: if you eat right, then the norm for everyone will be to gain 12-13 kilograms. Everything can be done easily and simply. The main thing is not to look into the refrigerator every minute and have scales on hand.

The main indicator when calculating the weight that a woman can gain in nine months is the one she had before pregnancy. So, at the first visit to the doctor, her usual weight is recorded, and later a concept such as body mass index (BMI) is calculated. It is worth remembering the school mathematics course. To find out your BMI, you need to divide your weight by your height squared and multiply the result by a thousand. For example, if a woman weighs 62 kilograms and is 167 centimeters tall, then her BMI will be 22.23. Now you should step on the scales and stadiometer and calculate your indicators.

According to them, you can allow your tummy to grow by the following numbers:

• if the BMI is 20-27, weight gain is allowed from 10 to 13 kilograms.
• if your BMI is greater than 27, then you should not gain more than 10 kilograms.

If the expectant mother manages to achieve results that set the norms for weight gain during pregnancy week by week, then she will feel better and lighter. And a caesarean section may not be necessary.

But there are no rules without exceptions. Women who are not pregnant for the first time can gain from 14 to 20 kilograms. And it also happens that a woman who has gained a lot of weight gives birth to a baby with a low birth weight. Therefore, only a gynecologist can determine these subtleties.

Location of the uterus

In addition, it is impossible to say unambiguously when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (photos by week help to see a noticeable difference in the increase in volume).

But changes in the position of the abdomen will certainly affect the timing. The uterus will now be located much lower than in the first pregnancy. As mentioned above, during the first pregnancy, the muscles of the pelvic floor, abdominal wall and ligaments “suffered” greatly before and during the first birth, and no longer hold the stomach so vigorously. On the one hand, this makes things easier for the pregnant woman: she is less bothered by heartburn and nothing makes breathing difficult. On the other hand, the lower spine and pelvic bones suffer. A bandage can help here; you can buy it only on specialized websites or at a pharmacy. And only the one that the doctor recommends.

Eating right

Having learned about their pregnancy, everyone is looking for ways to properly develop the fetus. Someone begins to leaf through a mountain of literature, and someone goes to great lengths in relation to food. You shouldn't eat for two! This does not bring any benefit to the child, and causes extra pounds.

Some, having decided that they should always have a waist, go on a diet even in an interesting position. As a result of fasting and limiting the consumption of high-calorie foods, the expectant mother harms the child. Don’t despair about the weight; it’s better to set the limit that will help keep it in the right proportions.

To do this you need to know the following:

• For the proper development of a child, you need to eat regularly and nutritiously;
• you should change your previous lifestyle to a more gentle one;
• It is important not to forget about visits to the doctor; the rate of weight gain during pregnancy week by week requires constant monitoring by an obstetrician-gynecologist.

It’s different for everyone: reviews from pregnant women

When the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (feedback from women can be an invaluable source of information), many also note differences in the shape of the abdomen. On the forums they write that in general, for women with a narrow pelvis, the second time it sags more and looks flatter, and it drops much later. This discourages those who like to tell fortunes about the sex of the child based on the shape of the belly. None of them can imagine that in the round belly, which greatly increases the mother’s waist, it is not a girl who is comfortably developing, but, on the contrary, a male baby.

The mothers themselves claim that when they are pregnant for the second time, it is more difficult for them to hide their position, since the belly becomes noticeable earlier than the first time. This is confirmed by the women themselves. They admit that when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy, the second baby becomes the object of congratulations a whole month earlier.

Pregnancy test, twins

• A pregnancy test is the first tool that can be used to suspect the presence of a multiple pregnancy.
• In this case, the level of HcG (hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin) is much higher, as a result of which the second strip on the test, which indicates the presence of pregnancy, is distinct and bright in color
• In addition, an elevated level of hCG helps determine the presence of multiple pregnancies earlier than detecting a normal one.

Pregnancy test

Mandatory visits to the gynecologist

Women try to figure out when the belly begins to grow during their second pregnancy. And their desires are not always connected with the desire to find out the gender of the child or to acquire appropriate clothing in time. The doctor is very interested in this information, whose attention pregnant women should never neglect. To give birth to a healthy baby, you need to regularly attend appointments with the gynecologist leading the pregnancy, where he will feel the tummy, measure it with a tape and a special device.

And all the signs outlined above will help him not in guessing the gender of the child, but in deciding how the pregnancy is progressing, whether there are any reasons for concern and a threat to the baby. This was the case the first time and this will be the case in all subsequent pregnancies. Every mother, regardless of whether this happens for the first or second time, must go through this period under the supervision of a doctor: take tests on time, follow a diet and physical activity.

Pregnant woman weight chart

How to correctly calculate the norms for weight gain during pregnancy by week? The table developed by obstetricians and gynecologists is a faithful assistant in this. A prerequisite: it should not be thrown into the far corner, but conducted weekly. Thanks to her, you can see how your weight has changed.

If this does not happen in the first and second trimester (and you need to gain 500 grams per week), then you should exercise caution and consult a doctor. And if in the third trimester the table indicators go over one kilogram every week, then this is a cause for concern.

So, what are the norms for weight gain during pregnancy?
The table reports that the expectant mother can gain a certain number of kilograms depending on her body mass index at the beginning of pregnancy. Norms for weight gain during pregnancy

It is recommended to draw up your own table together with your doctor and evaluate how correctly the period of gestation is proceeding.

Also, when compiling a detailed table, you can identify the following pattern. At the end of pregnancy, most people lose about two kilograms. There is absolutely no need to be scared, it’s just time to go to the maternity hospital.

A few words in conclusion

If the changes occurring in the uterus comply with accepted standards, neither the size nor the shape of the abdomen will in any way affect the health of the mother and her baby, and certainly not in any way affect his gender.

For parents looking forward to the birth of a baby, it doesn’t matter at all whether it’s a girl or a boy. And when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy with twins, there is definitely no limit to the happiness of expectant mothers and fathers. By the way, this happens quite early, and it won’t be difficult to guess why. And yet, the main thing for parents is to help every baby be born healthy and on time.

For every woman, becoming a mother means making huge changes in her life. Therefore, they want to know everything about this, especially how the fetus should develop correctly, in what month does the belly appear in pregnant women? These questions are asked quite often, especially by those who are preparing to become mothers for the first time.

First, let’s explain the definition of “tummy.” In the first months of pregnancy, a woman’s belly may grow, the reason for this is poor nutrition or gas formation. In these first months, the uterus is not yet enlarged.

Pregnant women come to a point when they begin to think: “at what stage does the belly begin to grow?” Let's try to answer this question. The uterus begins to grow only at 16 weeks from the moment of conception. Therefore, the belly will be noticeable to other people only in the 20th week of pregnancy. If a woman plays sports, i.e. if she has developed abs, her tummy will become visible much later. Also, the appearance of a belly depends on what type of pelvis the pregnant woman has. If the expectant mother’s pelvis is wide enough, her tummy will become visible only by the 4-5th month of pregnancy. In obese women, it will be possible to notice the “position” even later. In women who give birth for the second time, the belly may appear earlier. The number of embryos can also affect the size of the abdomen, namely, making it larger. This is the only thing that can really affect at what month the belly appears in pregnant women. If the expectant mother has triplets or twins, then the belly may be noticeable already in the first 3 months.

In general, the answer to the question of what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow will be as follows. If a woman has one fetus and its development is going well, then the belly should appear only at the 12th week of pregnancy. Already at week 16, your tummy will become noticeable not only to you. And by the 27th week of pregnancy, the question is: at what stage does the belly begin to grow? - will not be relevant, since by this moment it will be impossible to hide your baby under blouses and other clothes. At the same time, the expectant mother should be interested not only in what period the belly begins to grow, but also in how her baby should develop correctly. At 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, the fertilized egg reaches a diameter of 22 mm. At the time when it is necessary to register, namely, by 12 weeks, the length of the fetus will be seven centimeters, and its weight will reach 20-25 grams. At this time, when you come for an ultrasound, you can see that the fertilized egg has almost completely filled the uterine cavity.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus will reach a length of 12 cm, while its body weight will increase to 100 grams. By this time, the question of at what time the belly begins to grow disappears on its own, since all the worries associated with it are already behind us. The tummy has noticeably grown and become rounder.

By week 20, the length of the fetus will reach 25 cm with a weight of about 300 g. At 24 weeks, your baby will have time to grow significantly. By this time, its length will be almost 30 cm, and its weight will vary from 600 to 700 grams.

By week 28, the length of the fetus is usually 35 cm with a body weight of about 1.0-1.2 kg. At the 32nd week, body weight will increase to 1.5 kg with a fetal length of 40 cm. At week 36, the baby is practically formed, and its indicators by this time will be as follows: weight - 2.5 kg, and length - about 48 cm.

However, it is impossible to say that these indicators are the same for everyone. They are quite individual, since the baby in the womb of each mother is formed in its own way. Therefore, the above data is very average, and your baby may reach large sizes or be slightly smaller due to individual characteristics. The body weight of the fetus by the date of birth is usually 2.6-5.0 kg, and its length can reach 54 cm.

Thus, for the expectant mother it should be important: to carry the child for the entire required period and provide him with everything necessary for full growth and nutrition, but the tummy and its size are not the most important thing.

Waiting for a baby is one of the most anxious periods for women. Any information is important, such as the degree of uterine enlargement and imaging of pregnancy. Changes depend on the characteristics of the body, the weight of the expectant mother and other things. In addition, it matters whether the woman has given birth before.

Development of twins by week: second trimester of pregnancy

• 20th week - by this time the growth of the fruit reaches 25 cm, the weight is already 250-300 grams. Babies begin to respond to sounds, the urinary system and intestines of the fetus begin to work. The expectant mother already clearly feels movements and tremors
• 24th week - height about 30 cm, weight - 600g, hair appears on the body, the outlines of eyebrows and the first eyelashes are already noticeable on the face, noses are formed. The head is still disproportionately large
• 27th week - starting from this period, the fetuses are considered viable in case of premature birth. Vital processes in the lungs are formed, weight can reach 1 kg, height 35 cm. Since twins grow quickly, the pregnant woman feels discomfort due to a large belly and lower back pain. Due to the increased load on the legs, it becomes difficult to walk a lot

At what week does the belly begin to grow during the first pregnancy?

When waiting for the birth of a baby, a pregnant girl’s belly increases due to several factors:

• amniotic fluid content;
• fetal development;
• growth of the uterus.

At what age does the belly begin to grow? This is a very sensitive issue. For some women, it increases already in the first months, while others manage to hide for a long period the fact that they are preparing for the birth of a child. Gynecologists believe that the belly should be visible after the 16th week of pregnancy. If an ultrasound determines twins, then roundness may begin to appear 3-4 weeks earlier.

A woman preparing to become a mother for the first time may develop a belly much later than those who are about to give birth to a second child. Size takes longer to increase due to muscles that actively resist stretching. In addition, the rate at which your belly grows may depend on other factors. Sometimes it becomes noticeable that a woman is going to become a mother, only in the later stages. Muscle stretching occurs much faster in those who have already gone through childbirth.

Pregnancy: twins or twins

There are two types of twins: monozygotic or dizygotic:

• Monozygotic (identical) twins involve the birth of very similar babies (twins). They come from one egg and have one set of chromosomes. The egg divides early in its development. With such a pregnancy, children of the same sex are born
• Dizygotic (fraternal) twins develop when two eggs are fertilized by two sperm and have a different set of chromosomes. As a result of such a pregnancy, babies of different sexes may be born. Twins do not imply strong similarities between children

Interesting: Since ancient times, the birth of twins has been given a mystical connotation. For example, in Ancient Greece such a phenomenon was considered a gift from the gods.

Monozygotic and dizygotic twins

When does the belly start to grow in pregnant women with twins?

Another question of interest to expectant mothers concerns multiple pregnancies. Noticeable roundness, if two fertilized eggs were visible in the ultrasound photo, appears earlier. In this case, the volume of amniotic fluid increases faster, so changes occur about a month earlier. Pregnant twins already in the third trimester have a belly that is visible to the naked eye.

During a multiple pregnancy, the uterus enlarges several weeks earlier than when carrying one child. The mother's overall body weight also grows faster. However, a big belly does not necessarily mean that a woman will have twins. Sometimes this is a sign of incorrect calculation of the timing of pregnancy, a large fetus, or the formation of amniotic fluid in a significant amount. The position of the unborn baby also matters.

Multiple pregnancy, early signs

Early diagnosis of twin pregnancy is extremely important for the normal course of pregnancy, because it requires special attention and constant monitoring.

In general, a woman at first does not feel at all that she is pregnant with twins. Most often they find out about this during the first ultrasound examination when registering at the antenatal clinic.

Pay attention to some early signs that may indicate a multiple pregnancy:

• Increased sense of smell, odor intolerance, toxicosis
• Pronounced swelling of the mammary glands
• The appearance of age spots on the face and chest
• At the first examination, the presence of two fetuses may be suspected by the gynecologist due to the size of the uterus and its rapid enlargement at the next appointment. Sometimes pregnant women are given an incorrect due date at the first appointment due to the fact that the size of the uterus does not correspond to the due date.
• At 10 weeks, multiple pregnancies can be detected by electrocardiography
• Elevated hCG levels, which can be detected by a blood test

Important: The first ultrasound examination does not guarantee the detection of a multiple pregnancy, because one fetus may be hidden behind another.

Signs of twin pregnancy

At what stage does the belly begin to grow during the second pregnancy?

It is believed that the baby of a mother who has become pregnant for the second time is slightly larger. The size of the tummy corresponds to this. Doctors confirm this fact. During the second pregnancy, the fetus grows in height and gains up to 500 grams more weight than when expecting the first child. The skin and muscles stretch faster, the navel twists, and already at four months the roundness is clearly visible.

Each woman's uterus grows individually. If the period of waiting for the first child remains invisible to others for a long time, then the second pregnancy becomes visible earlier. The abdominal muscles are already stretched after the first birth, so the process goes faster. It is important to take into account the physiology of the expectant mother, especially the structure of the pelvic bones. An expectant mother with a narrow pelvis “rounds up” faster during pregnancy than women with a wide skeleton.

At what stage of pregnancy does the belly begin to grow? Visual changes may not occur until the tenth week. After this, a slight roundness appears, growing every day. The most active period of fetal development begins in the thirteenth week. After the first pregnancy, the wall of the abdominal muscle is no longer as elastic as before, so it may seem that the “interesting position” appears visually faster.

Development of twins by week: first trimester of pregnancy

It is generally accepted that a trimester is 13 weeks. What happens to babies in the womb at this stage?

A multiple pregnancy is a little different from a normal pregnancy. One of these differences is the somewhat accelerated development of fruits. I offer you an approximate description of what is happening to your body and to your babies:

• 4-7 weeks - fruit growth is 20-30mm, the development of the brain and internal organs begins. The expectant mother may feel the first signs of pregnancy: breasts swell, mild nausea appears
• 7th week - embryo growth is 8-10mm, the outlines of the head and limbs appear, eyes, mouth and ears appear on the head. There is a possibility of miscarriage, it is determined during examination
• 12th week - babies grow to 5-6cm, the risk of miscarriage decreases. You can already get to know them by undergoing an ultrasound. The fruits have the outlines of nails and teeth, their height can reach 15cm, and their weight can reach 1g. They can already respond to stimuli by clenching their fists and make their first attempts to swallow

Don't worry!

Many women find it extremely painful to gain weight. This should not be done under any circumstances. Firstly, pregnancy is a temporary phenomenon, so both a big belly and other enlarged body parts will remain a thing of the past (and will be remembered with affection). Secondly, after six months or a year you can return to your previous forms. This will directly depend on the woman’s activity and desire to lose weight. But don’t forget how much weight gain during pregnancy is normal by week.

And now you need to walk more, eat the right food and forget about diets. And no nervous shocks! The child does everything together with his mother: he eats and worries. We must remember that future motherhood adorns a woman and makes her treat her with special love and respect.