How early can you detect twins in a scan?

If you’re willing to pay for an early scan, you can detect twins very early in a pregnancy. If the twins are di-di twins – which means that they have their own separate inner and outer sacs and each have a placenta – they can be detected in week 5. You can look for and detect the two outer sacs, even though you might not be able to discover heart beats yet. If they are mo-di or mo-mo twins you have to wait until 6 full weeks have passed. This is because these types of twins who share a sac – or at least the outer sac – are detected via heart beats. After week 6+0 both hearts should be beating. This means that all twins can be detected after week 6+0, regardless of what type of twins they are. Read more about di-di, mo-di and mo-mo twins.

When will I get my first scan?

In most countries your first scan will occur when you are 11-13 weeks pregnant.* It will confirm your due date and you’ll be offered screening tests for Down’s syndrome at this point. This is done via an external ultrasound scan, where a probe is moved over your belly. If you get an early scan – before 8 full weeks – it will usually be an internal ultrasound scan, which means that the probe is inserted into your vagina. It’s done this way because it’s possible to get a better image of the embryos.

*If you’re in fertility treatment you’ll probably have your first scan around week 6.

What happens during an early vaginal scan?

During a vaginal scan you’ll need to undress from the waist down and you’ll lie on your back with your knees bent. The probe will be covered with a condom-like cover and lots of luminous gel. The sonographer won’t need to go in very deeply and it can’t hurt you or your babies in any way. It’s not painful, but you may discover mild discomfort due to the pressure of the probe or if you tense up during the scan. The probe sends out sound waves. A computer receives these waves and uses them to create a picture. Together with the sonographer, you’ll be able to see the picture on a TV monitor. Unless you are in fertility treatment, an early scan will only be offered if you face complications, such as pain or vaginal bleeding.

If you’re not up for an early scan, there are other indicators that can suggest that you are having twins. Have a look at twin pregnancy symptoms.

Severe pregnancy symptoms

Substantial hormonal changes – like those you have during a twin pregnancy – can cause more severe pregnancy symptoms. You may feel much more nauseous and be more tired than you would be if you were having a singleton. However, be aware that you can also feel absolutely hellish and only be expecting one child.  A large study shows that you are more at risk of experiencing nausea if you carry twins and especially so if one or more of the babies are girls.

Elevated levels of hCG

Elevated levels of the hormone “human chorionic gonadotropin” (hCG) in the blood is another sign that you are pregnant with twins. However, levels can also be elevated during the early phase of a singleton pregnancy, so you won’t know for sure. If you want to find out for certain whether or not your twin pregnancy symptoms stem from you having two babies in your womb, you’ll need to get an ultrasound scan. Find out how early you can detect twins in a scan.

Bigger baby bump

Are you getting comments about you looking like you’re further along than you know you in fact are? A big – an early – baby bump can imply that you are having two guests in your womb instead of a singleton. However, be aware that after each pregnancy, the skin, muscles and surrounding ligaments have been stretched. This means that when the pregnancy hormones kick in, your belly will take its round shape earlier on, if you’ve had children previously. You’ll also feel bigger if you weigh more when you get pregnant, than you did when you got pregnant previously. Have a look at other women’s twin pregnancy bellies at different stages in pregnancy.

Would you like to have twins? Read our guide to know what you can do to increase your chances of having twins.