Hi there twin mama to be! In this post I am providing a general overview of what to expect during the 2nd trimester of your twins pregnancy.
I am a twin mom myself and I thought it would be super helpful to give others expecting twins a good idea of what the second trimester will be like. So, let’s get started reviewing.
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Which Weeks Cover the 2nd Trimester?
The second trimester of a twins pregnancy runs approximately from 13-27 weeks. Generally speaking, the first trimester starts at 12-14 weeks and ends at 26-27 weeks.
Second Trimester of Twin Pregnancy Symptoms
The good news is that most moms feel much better in the 2nd trimester when compared to the 1st trimester of pregnancy. This is true for twin pregnancies as well.
You might still be dealing with exhaustion and nausea in the early stage of the 2nd trimester, but often these symptoms slowly go away during the first few weeks. For me personally, I was disappointed that my nausea was still present after 12 weeks, but it did go away by 14-15 weeks. Here is a list of some common symptoms to expect during your 2nd trimester with twins:
- Increased weight gain
- Larger belly
- Increased appetite
- Back pain
- Increased heart rate
- Braxton Hicks contractions
- Stretch marks
- Varicose veins
- Swelling (Edema)
- Heartburn & indigestion
- Pelvic pain
- Round ligament pain
- Increased urination
When looking at the list above, I had most of the symptoms listed above. The ones I didn’t experience in my 2nd trimester include back pain and varicose veins.
Ultrasounds During the 2nd Trimester With Twins
By now you may have learned that you can expect to have ultrasounds a lot more often during a twin pregnancy. But how often will you have them in 2nd trimester?
You can expect an ultrasound every 4 weeks in this trimester. These ultrasounds are for monitoring that your babies are growing as they should be.
You will also get your 20 week anatomy scan during this time. This is the big ultrasound that checks for physical fetus development and can also detect some congenital disorders. You can expect your 20 week ultrasound to take longer when compared to a singleton pregnancy because the ultrasound tech will need to check on two babies as opposed to one.
How Much Weight Should You Gain in the 2nd Trimester?
Aim to gain approximately 1.5 lb per week of your 2nd trimester. You can also look at what your total weight gain should be for your entire pregnancy. That’s the more important number.
It is recommended to gain 35-45 lb total when pregnant with twins. In my personal experience I gained 50 lb, which was a lot. It definitely made it more difficult to lose that twin baby weight.
Related: Easily track your weekly twin pregnancy weight gain
2nd Trimester Twin Pregnancy Belly Expectations
You will start showing a small bump at some point during the 2nd trimester with twins. For me, this was my first pregnancy and I started noticing a bump around 18 weeks. By the end of your 2nd trimester, there is a good chance you will look very obviously pregnant.
One big factor in your belly size will be if you have previously been pregnant. If this is your first pregnancy, it takes longer to start showing. Typically, if you have been pregnant before, you will start showing earlier on in your pregnancy than you did with your first pregnancy.
Keep in mind that at 27 weeks pregnant your babies could weigh up to 2 lb each (more likely a little bit less than this though). Since you are carrying two babies, that’s almost 4 lb of baby. Your belly will very likely be quite a bit larger than a person going through a singleton pregnancy.
Do keep in mind that everyone is different. Your pregnancy and belly size will not be the same as someone else. Each persons weight gain and belly size will be different, so try not to compare too much to others.
Your best bet is to talk to your doctor and make sure your health and your babies health is on track. At the end of the day, that is the most important thing.
2nd Trimester Twins Checklist
Now that you have an idea of what expect to happen during the 2nd trimester with twins, what things do you need to get done in this trimester? Here is my list, along with target dates for completing each item (the dates are adjusted specifically for a twin pregnancy):
- Tell your boss about your pregnancy: 12-20 weeks
- Start buying maternity clothes: 14 weeks
- 20 week ultrasound
- Look into childcare for twins (optional): 20 weeks
- Sign up for a birthing class: 20 weeks
- Finalize baby shower date & details: 20 weeks
- Finish your twin baby registry: 22 weeks
- Gestational diabetes test: 24-28 weeks
- Have twins baby shower: 26-28 weeks
Free Printable Twins Pregnancy Checklists: Trimester, Baby Registry, & Hospital Bag
For even more help stay organizing and reducing overwhelm I highly recommend grabbing these FREE twin pregnancy checklists. It includes a printable version of the 2nd trimester list above (and also includes items to complete in the 1st and 3rd trimesters). Additionally, you also get a twin baby registry checklist and a twins hospital bag checklist too.
Now you know what to expect from a twin mom who has been through it!
That wraps up my tips on what you can expect to happen during the 2nd trimester with twins. This is the time you can expect to feel the best, which makes it a great time to get some twin preparation items accomplished.
Finally, before you go you might want to check out these amazing resources for twins. Printable checklists and trackers are a great way to reduce the overwhelm that comes with newborn twins. That’s why I recommend checking out the items listed below:
