What I Wish I Knew Before Carrying Twins
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When I first saw the ultrasound screen and the doctor said, “There are two,” I laughed. Then I cried. Then I laughed again.
And that pretty much sums up the next nine months of my life — a mix of disbelief, exhaustion, and love multiplied by two.
But here’s the funny thing: deep down, I kind of knew it was more than one.
The symptoms hit me like a truck from the very beginning — extreme nausea, exhaustion, and this weird intuition I couldn’t shake.
When I told my husband that I had a feeling there were two in there because I was already showing early, he looked at me and said, “Maybe you’ve just been eating too much?”
That one nearly made my head spin — because between the nausea and the food aversions, I could barely keep down toast.
He laughed it off, joking the whole way to our first ultrasound.
Then the doctor smiled, turned the screen, and said those unforgettable words: “I see two.”
Let’s just say… my husband didn’t speak again until dinner time.
When he finally did, he looked at me and said, “Well, I guess we should name one after me then.”
That’s when I knew he was okay again.
And maybe I should’ve seen it coming — I have two brothers who are twins. Everyone always told me, “Oh, twins skip a generation.”
Spoiler: they don’t.
At that time, I was already raising our son, who was about a year old — still a baby himself.
So when I heard “two,” I instantly imagined bottles, nappies, and sleepless nights… times three.
It wasn’t just a pregnancy anymore — it was a complete life reboot.
Now, this is just my experience, of course. Every pregnancy — and every twin pregnancy — is different.
But for me, carrying twins was a whole new world. It was double the excitement, double the appointments, and triple the snacks (no regrets there).
It was also double the worry and double the weight — literally and emotionally.
Here’s what I personally wish I’d known before I started this wild, beautiful ride.
1. The fatigue hits early — and it’s real
With my first pregnancy, I was tired. With my twin pregnancy, I felt like I’d run a marathon before breakfast — while chasing a toddler.
By week 8, even getting dressed felt like an achievement worthy of a medal. Growing two babies means your body is working overtime from day one, and you feel it in every muscle, every step, every yawn that never seems to end.
What helped me: accepting that rest is productive. Letting go of guilt when all I managed in a day was surviving. And snacks — always snacks.
2. Every appointment feels like a team meeting
With twins, you quickly learn the hospital becomes your second home.
Extra ultrasounds, check-ins, and monitoring are standard — which is both reassuring and exhausting. I used to joke that I saw my obstetrician more than I saw my friends (which, let’s be honest, was true).
My tip: keep a small notebook or notes app to track what each doctor says. Between “Baby A” and “Baby B,” it’s easy to forget who’s breech, who’s on the left, and who kicked your ribs last night.
3. Your belly grows fast — and so do the stares
By 20 weeks, strangers would ask if I was “due any day now.” By 30, people asked if I was carrying triplets.
It’s one of those things you laugh about later, but in the moment, it can be hard — your body changes so quickly you barely recognize yourself.
From my experience: your body is doing something incredible. Stretch marks, swollen ankles, and all — it’s growing two lives. Be kind to it. Take the bump pictures, even if you feel like a balloon. One day, you’ll miss that belly.
4. Sleep? What sleep?
By the third trimester, I basically rotated between the couch, bed, and floor like a whale in search of comfort.
Pillows became my new best friends — between the knees, under the belly, behind the back. And still, someone (or something) was always kicking.
My best advice: Don’t fight it. Nap whenever you can. Sleep in strange positions. Accept chaos — it’s a preview of what’s coming.
5. You’ll worry (a lot) — but you’ll also be amazed
Twin pregnancies are labeled “high risk,” and that phrase can trigger anxiety. Every scan feels like holding your breath.
But with every milestone — two heartbeats, two tiny hiccups, two little profiles on the screen — I realized my body was capable of magic.
There’s something profoundly grounding about carrying two souls at once. It teaches you patience, surrender, and strength you didn’t know you had.
6. When there’s no “village,” you still find a way
People love to say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” And I believe that. But sometimes, the village simply isn’t there.
For us, there was no family around the corner, no one dropping by to give me a break or cook dinner. It was just us — two tired parents, one energetic toddler, and two babies on the way.
So we made it work.
We learned to do life in shifts, to laugh when everything fell apart, to lower the bar and call cereal “dinner” when we had to.
You discover resilience you didn’t know existed. You realize that love — messy, unshowered, coffee-fueled love — is enough.
Final thoughts
If you’re pregnant with twins right now — maybe while chasing a little one already — take a deep breath. You’re doing something extraordinary.
It won’t be easy, but it will be unforgettable. And one day, when you’re holding both babies in your arms (and your toddler is climbing the couch), you’ll realize: you did it. You carried two hearts, and somehow, yours grew big enough for all three.