Twins or More What's Different About a Twin Pregnancy? Answers to Twin Pregnancy Questions By Pamela Prindle Fierro Pamela Prindle Fierro is the author of several parenting books and the mother of twin girls. Learn about our editorial process Pamela Prindle Fierro Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD on February 29, 2016 Joel Forman, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and associate professor of pediatrics, environmental medicine, and public health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Learn about our Review Board Joel Forman, MD Updated on October 02, 2020 Print PeopleImages / Getty Images Obviously, the main difference between a twin pregnancy and a regular pregnancy is the presence of two fetuses. At the end of a twin pregnancy, a mother will give birth to two babies, rather than just one. The experience of a twin pregnancy can also be very different for some women. In some cases, women who are pregnant with twins experience enhanced or increased pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, fatigue, or edema (swelling). While it's not quite accurate to say that these symptoms are doubled in a twin pregnancy, the increased levels of hormones do exacerbate them for some women. The body of a woman pregnant with twins will adapt to accommodate two babies. That means that a woman pregnant with twins can expect to grow larger and gain more weight than a woman pregnant with a singleton. She will also require more calories and nutrients. In addition, a woman who is pregnant with twins is at greater risk for some medical complications, such as preterm labor, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes. Due to these risks, women that are having twins should consult their healthcare provider. They may require closer medical care, including more frequent office visits, or additional tests. They are encouraged to receive proper medical attention, follow a healthy diet, take in ample fluids, and minimize any activity which puts the pregnancy at risk. Researchers are still exploring the specific ways that a multiple pregnancy is different from a single pregnancy. For example, a 2009 study by Edinburgh University found that the biological process of premature birth varied from singleton to multiple births. The study focused on a progesterone gel treatment that was found to be effective in reducing early births of singletons but did not have the same effect with multiples. It is hoped that further research to understand the differences will point the way to preventing preterm birth. Risks of a Twin Pregnancy for Mother and Babies Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Soma-Pillay P, Nelson-Piercy C, Tolppanen H, Mebazaa A. Physiological changes in pregnancy. Cardiovasc J Afr. 2016;27(2):89–94. doi:10.5830/CVJA-2016-021 Lutsiv O, Hulman A, Woolcott C, et al. Examining the provisional guidelines for weight gain in twin pregnancies: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):330. doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1530-2 Dudenhausen JW, Maier RF. Perinatal problems in multiple births. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2010;107(38):663–668. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2010.0663 Norman JE, Mackenzie F, Owen P, et al. Progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancy (STOPPIT): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2009;373(9680):2034–2040. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60947-8 Additional Reading Norman, J., et al. "Progesterone for the Prevention of Preterm Birth in Twin Pregnancy." The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9680, 2034 - 2040. Staff. "Twin Pregnancy: What Multiples Mean for Mom." Mayo Clinic.