{"id":256661,"date":"2022-03-04T12:46:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T17:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/?post_type=article&p=256661"},"modified":"2025-07-29T11:46:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:46:33","slug":"ten-weeks-pregnant-with-multiples","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/256661\/ten-weeks-pregnant-with-multiples\/","title":{"rendered":"10 weeks pregnant with multiples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your doubly precious pregnancy has officially entered double digits. Expecting triplets or quadruplets? We\u2019re multiplying our excitement for you accordingly! Let’s talk ten weeks pregnant with multiples!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, your babies\u2019 embryonic tails disappeared, and their body parts became more easily identifiable. By now, your babies have completed the most significant portion of their first trimester development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your little ones are now working to grow and strengthen their bodies, which have taken on that adorable baby shape! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do twins and other multiples happen?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding out you\u2019re expecting multiples can come as quite a surprise! Most multiple pregnancies aren\u2019t visible on an ultrasound until between 6 and 8 weeks of gestation, so likely, you\u2019ve only just caught wind of the news. It\u2019s normal to feel ecstatic, nervous, or just plain overwhelmed when you find out you\u2019re expecting multiples, especially if this is an unexpected surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple pregnancies happen in a few different ways. You\u2019ll get a better understanding of your babies\u2019 origin story when your provider identifies their arrangement within their sacs. Keep reading to find out more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identical twins (triplets, and beyond) happen when a single fertilized egg (zygote) divides into two or more identical zygotes. Multiples who are identical have the same exact genetic material; this means they will be of the same physical sex, and their appearance will be, well, identical \u2014 or very close to it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This type of pregnancy happens simply by chance, so identical multiples do not run in families. Depending upon when in the process the zygote splits, your babies may share both layers of their sacs (amnion and chorion) and be in the same space as each other without any separating membrane. In this case, they would also share a single placenta. In other cases, they may have separate amniotic sacs (inner layers) but share the same chorion (outer layer of the sac). And in some cases, they may each have their own amnion, chorion, and placenta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fraternal multiples happen when more than one egg is released during ovulation, and each is fertilized by a different sperm cell. Because fraternal multiples come from their own eggs, they\u2019re no more similar genetically than other full siblings. Fraternal twins, triplets, and even quadruplets have their own placentas and amniotic sacs, as well as chorionic sacs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, it\u2019s possible you could be carrying a mix of identical and fraternal multiples! For example, if one egg split in half but you released multiple eggs during ovulation, you could have two identical (twins) and one fraternal triplet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your babies up to this week?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your little ones have developed identifiable limbs and lost their embryonic tails, making them clearly recognizable as babies on an ultrasound. At 10 weeks, they are just shy of an inch long and weigh approximately 0.14 ounces each \u2014 roughly the size of a strawberry! The skin covering their bodies is still translucent, but they\u2019re now able to bend their limbs. They\u2019re also beginning to develop finer details, like tiny fingernails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What can I expect from a twin or multiple pregnancy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hearing you\u2019re carrying multiples can certainly come as a shock. By now, you\u2019ll be able to see your babies on an ultrasound and hear their heartbeats. Whether you\u2019re overjoyed or overwhelmed (or a mix of both), know your feelings are valid. We\u2019re here to offer support!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People carrying multiples will have a greater amount of healthcare visits and ultrasounds than those who are pregnant with singletons. These visits are to ensure you and your babies are healthy! Multiples may pose a higher risk of certain complications, so it\u2019s essential to attend all scheduled appointments and follow your provider\u2019s guidelines closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just your imagination if you feel like your morning sickness symptoms are amplified. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that multiple pregnancies bring about more severe symptoms of nausea, fatigue, and breast tenderness. Luckily, your symptoms should begin to wane after the first trimester, and you\u2019ve almost reached that milestone. You\u2019ve got this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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