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Symptoms and Diagnosis of Multiple Pregnancy
What are the symptoms of multiple pregnancy?
Each woman may have slightly different symptoms. But the most common symptoms of multiple pregnancy are:
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Uterus is larger than expected for the dates in pregnancy
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More morning sickness
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Greater appetite
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Too much weight gain, especially in early pregnancy
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Babies' movements felt in different parts of the stomach at the same time
How is multiple pregnancy diagnosed?
Many women think they are pregnant with more than 1 baby. The healthcare provider may diagnose multiple babies early in pregnancy. This is especially true if fertility treatments were used. The provider may make the diagnosis with a health history, physical exam, and the following tests:
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Pregnancy blood testing. Levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be quite high with multiple pregnancy.
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Alpha-fetoprotein. Levels of a protein released by the fetal liver and found in the mother's blood may be high when more than 1 baby is making the protein.
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Ultrasound. This is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds can be done with a vaginal probe (transducer), especially in early pregnancy. Or they can be done with an abdominal probe in later pregnancy.
