Twins or More Worst Things About Twin Pregnancy The Unpleasant Side Effects of Being Pregnant with Twins By Pamela Prindle Fierro | Medically reviewed by Joel Forman, MD Updated February 14, 2018 Pin Flip Email Print More in Pregnancy Twins or More Weeks and Trimesters Your Body Your Baby Staying Healthy Complications & Concerns Pregnancy Loss Prenatal Care Preparing for Baby Labor and Delivery Postpartum Care View All You're having twins! It's an exciting time of joy and anticipation as you look forward to the arrival of two babies. How lucky ... one pregnancy that yields two babies! Right? While there are benefits to a two-for-one pregnancy, there are also some extreme side effects that can prove unpleasant. Some of the regular side effects of pregnancy are magnified with twins, and sometimes a twin pregnancy brings its own unpleasant complications. 1 Morning Sickness Double the Morning Sickness? Pregnant with Twins. kristian sekulic / E+ / Getty Images One of the first (and worst) symptoms of pregnancy is morning sickness. For many moms, morning sickness doesn't just hit in the morning - but can last all day. Usually confined to the first trimester, it is often intensified for moms of multiples. 2 Weight Gain Packing on Pounds? Pregnant with Twins. ferrantraite / E+ / Getty Images Women are always concerned about the amount of weight they will gain during pregnancy, worrying about how it will affect their figure. As you might suspect, a woman who is having multiples will see more of an increase on her scale than if she were only having one baby. It's not just that she's eating more. The extra weight can be attributed not just to the babies' combined weights, but also to extra fluid, tissue, uterine growth and the increased blood volume needed to supply the placenta(s) with nourishment for two or more babies. 3 Preterm Labor Preterm Labor Anxiety? Pregnant with Twins. Cristian Baitg / Getty Images While not every mom of multiples contends with preterm labor, many mothers of twins and nearly all mothers of triplets or more will face this complication. The treatments to stave off preterm labor can be unpleasant or inconvenient, and no one likes the accompanying anxiety and stress. 4 Heartburn Heartburn Hassles? Pregnant with Twins. Westend61 / Getty Images Heartburn is one of the most uncomfortable physical effects of pregnancy. It can keep you awake at night and make it difficult for you to consume enough calories and fluids. The burning sensation in your lower throat or upper chest is triggered by your expanding uterus and increasing hormones. 5 Bed Rest Bed Rest Woes? Twin Pregnancy. Jasper Cole / Blend Images / Getty Images Bed rest may be prescribed for pregnant mothers of multiples for a variety of reasons. While it may sound like a vacation to spend days or weeks in bed, medical bed rest is far from a picnic. 6 Aches and Pains Hurting All Over - Pregnant with Twins. kristian sekulic / E+ / Getty Images Stretching ligaments, contractions, leg cramps, back pain, headaches ... pregnancy can produce pain all over your body. And when there is more than one baby, the pain can be intensified. 7 Carpal Tunnel Carpal Tunnel? Pregnant with Twins. fatihhoca / E+ / Getty Images Tingling and numbness in the arms and hands may be a surprising side effect of pregnancy. While many people think that carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by too much typing, it can also be caused by "two" many babies! The "tunnel" formed by the bones and ligament in the wrist can become compressed by the swelling and fluid retention common in pregnancy, squeezing a nerve that produces the painful sensations. 8 Stretch Marks Supersize Stretch Marks? Pregnant with Twins. Joel Carillet / E+ / Getty Images While many of the symptoms of pregnancy disappear once the babies are delivered, stretch marks can last a lifetime. There's no doubt that moms of twins will be stretched to the limit as their body accommodates two babies. Their stretching skin can result in a separation of collagen that leaves pink or purplish marks on the abdomen, breasts, hips or thighs. 9 Lack of Sleep No Sleep in Sight? Pregnant with Twins. Tamara Murray / E+ / Getty Images Most parents expect to experience sleepless nights when their twins are babies. However, many pregnant moms are surprised by how difficult it is to get proper rest during their pregnancy with multiples. Physical discomfort and anxiety can produce occasional restlessness or full blown insomnia. 10 Sheer Girth Double Size? Pregnant with Twins. Laura Ciapponi / Image Bank / Getty Images How big will you get? For some moms, it is not the pain, discomfort or worry that is the worst thing about twin pregnancy. Rather, it is the sheer girth of a body incubating two babies. It's not just a big belly; every part of mom's body can be affected by swelling and bulges. Growing larger and larger, it becomes difficult to navigate through doorways, get in and out of the car, or get up out of bed. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading