21 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
Once you are 21 weeks into your pregnancy, things tend to become a bit easier. Your morning sickness will settle and your appetite will be back to normal as well. It is important to understand though that every woman is different and it is not uncommon for women to continue to experience early pregnancy symptoms in late pregnancy, especially when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins.
Twin Baby Development at 21 Weeks
It is possible to see the growth of your twins when you have an ultrasound at 21 weeks. The legs and arms of babies become more proportionate to their bodies and their skin is not as transparent as it usually is during early weeks of pregnancy.
While the babies kick and nudge each other to get more space, there is no need to worry because the membrane between them is amazingly elastic. Ultrasound images will show the chin of babies at their chest with their elbows tucked at their sides. The feet are usually tucked under their bottoms at this stage. They may change their position and stretch out when they are awake.
Interesting Facts
There are some interesting facts you may want to know when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. For instance:
Curios about how your twins would be moving about? Watch this:
Changes to Expect for Mothers at 21 Weeks
You already know what changes you will notice in your babies when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. Many women also want to know about changes they may experience at this stage in pregnancy. Here is more about it:
1. Baby Movements
You will feel your babies move around a lot, but it is still hard to notice which one moved when. You may sometimes feel it in both sides, but it can be in one side occasionally, especially when both babies have their legs stretched out in the same direction.
2. Increased Risk of Edema
You are at a greater risk to develop edema when carrying twins. It is even possible for women to develop carpal tunnel syndrome due to buildup of fluid. This causes excessive pressure on the nerves and bones and leads to numbness or tingling in the palm or fingers. Be sure to drink plenty of water and take enough rest to deal with these symptoms. The issue usually resolves on its own after delivery.
3. Feeling Warmer Than Others
Your resting metabolic rate may increase when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. This makes you feel warmer as compared to everyone else in the same room. Feeling overheated does not mean you have a fever – it is natural at this time in pregnancy. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated.
4. Leg Cramps
It is not uncommon for women to experience leg cramps when they are 21 weeks pregnant. These cramps can make you feel serious pain that comes suddenly. Women with twins are at a greater risk of experiencing these painful leg cramps. It happens because your twins are taking their share of minerals, leaving you with a little. Even a shortage of calcium can cause leg cramps in some cases. Talk to your doctor and ask them about what to include in your diet to provide enough for your babies and your body.
Tips for 21 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
Supplements
Many women resort to iron supplements to deal with iron-deficiency anemia, but iron pills can cause Constipation and make nausea even worse. Iron alone will not do much; you also need vitamin B12, protein, and other nutrients to stay healthy at this stage. You may, however, consider eating food rich in heme-iron, such as pork, poultry, fish, and eggs. Also, include breads, fortified grains, beans, nuts, spinach, wheat germ, and dried fruits in your diet to avoid dealing with serious issues at 21 weeks pregnant with twins.
When to See a Doctor
It is quite common for women carrying twins to go into premature labor. It is, therefore, of immense important to notice any change in your pregnancy and inform your doctor about anything you feel.
You may want to see your doctor if you experience symptoms such as bleeding gums, sensitivity to sun, nasal stuffiness, round ligament pain, constipation, and leg cramps. You may notice several other symptoms at this point in pregnancy, including glow of pregnancy, anemia, leakage from nipples, sleep changes, hearty appetite, change in libido, fatigue, swelling in the feet, Heartburn, and Headaches. Decrease in urination, vaginal discharge, and Stretch Marks may also make things a bit difficult for you.
You should talk to your doctor about any symptoms that are making you feel uncomfortable.
Once you are 21 weeks into your pregnancy, things tend to become a bit easier. Your morning sickness will settle and your appetite will be back to normal as well. It is important to understand though that every woman is different and it is not uncommon for women to continue to experience early pregnancy symptoms in late pregnancy, especially when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins.
Twin Baby Development at 21 Weeks
It is possible to see the growth of your twins when you have an ultrasound at 21 weeks. The legs and arms of babies become more proportionate to their bodies and their skin is not as transparent as it usually is during early weeks of pregnancy.
- When you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins, it is possible to see movements of your babies in ultrasound images. It is even possible to see them nudging and kicking each other.
- At this point, your babies may be around 11 inches from crown to heel with a weight up to 395g each.
- They will still be covered in vernix, a waxy substance that protects skin of your baby from drying out in the amniotic fluid.
- This is also the stage when infection-fighting white blood cells develop in babies.
While the babies kick and nudge each other to get more space, there is no need to worry because the membrane between them is amazingly elastic. Ultrasound images will show the chin of babies at their chest with their elbows tucked at their sides. The feet are usually tucked under their bottoms at this stage. They may change their position and stretch out when they are awake.
Interesting Facts
There are some interesting facts you may want to know when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. For instance:
- You have fraternal twins or dizygotic (DZ) when you produce two eggs in your normal monthly cycle; however, two separate sperms fertilize the eggs. They are called DZ mainly because they develop from two different zygotes.
- Fraternal twins share about 50% of their genes, so they are genetically as alike as non-twin siblings are. It is for this reason that fraternal twins may not have the same personality, appearance, or intelligence level. Their rate of development and growth may also be different.
Curios about how your twins would be moving about? Watch this:
Changes to Expect for Mothers at 21 Weeks
You already know what changes you will notice in your babies when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. Many women also want to know about changes they may experience at this stage in pregnancy. Here is more about it:
1. Baby Movements
You will feel your babies move around a lot, but it is still hard to notice which one moved when. You may sometimes feel it in both sides, but it can be in one side occasionally, especially when both babies have their legs stretched out in the same direction.
2. Increased Risk of Edema
You are at a greater risk to develop edema when carrying twins. It is even possible for women to develop carpal tunnel syndrome due to buildup of fluid. This causes excessive pressure on the nerves and bones and leads to numbness or tingling in the palm or fingers. Be sure to drink plenty of water and take enough rest to deal with these symptoms. The issue usually resolves on its own after delivery.
3. Feeling Warmer Than Others
Your resting metabolic rate may increase when you are 21 weeks pregnant with twins. This makes you feel warmer as compared to everyone else in the same room. Feeling overheated does not mean you have a fever – it is natural at this time in pregnancy. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids to keep you hydrated.
4. Leg Cramps
It is not uncommon for women to experience leg cramps when they are 21 weeks pregnant. These cramps can make you feel serious pain that comes suddenly. Women with twins are at a greater risk of experiencing these painful leg cramps. It happens because your twins are taking their share of minerals, leaving you with a little. Even a shortage of calcium can cause leg cramps in some cases. Talk to your doctor and ask them about what to include in your diet to provide enough for your babies and your body.
Tips for 21 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
Supplements
Many women resort to iron supplements to deal with iron-deficiency anemia, but iron pills can cause Constipation and make nausea even worse. Iron alone will not do much; you also need vitamin B12, protein, and other nutrients to stay healthy at this stage. You may, however, consider eating food rich in heme-iron, such as pork, poultry, fish, and eggs. Also, include breads, fortified grains, beans, nuts, spinach, wheat germ, and dried fruits in your diet to avoid dealing with serious issues at 21 weeks pregnant with twins.
When to See a Doctor
It is quite common for women carrying twins to go into premature labor. It is, therefore, of immense important to notice any change in your pregnancy and inform your doctor about anything you feel.
You may want to see your doctor if you experience symptoms such as bleeding gums, sensitivity to sun, nasal stuffiness, round ligament pain, constipation, and leg cramps. You may notice several other symptoms at this point in pregnancy, including glow of pregnancy, anemia, leakage from nipples, sleep changes, hearty appetite, change in libido, fatigue, swelling in the feet, Heartburn, and Headaches. Decrease in urination, vaginal discharge, and Stretch Marks may also make things a bit difficult for you.
You should talk to your doctor about any symptoms that are making you feel uncomfortable.
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