Week 9 Twin Pregnancy: First Trimester with Twins
Hi Mama – welcome to your twin pregnancy week 9! At this point you’ve probably felt at least a few pregnancy symptoms pop up. Whether or not you know you’re carrying twins yet, you probably have felt some element of exhaustion and morning sickness that can accompany twin pregnancies. You may be wondering (like I was) “is this normal in all pregnancies, or…you don’t think there could be twins in there, do you??”
Either way, here we cover the twin symptoms, baby sizes, twin development, a week 9 twin pregnancy to do list, questions that twin moms ask their doctors and more. Let’s dive in!
Grab your free download: Ultimate Twin Pregnancy To Do List
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor; the below tips are meant to support your twin journey, but it is not inclusive and I always recommend running everything by your doctor.
Common Symptoms 9 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
- Exhaustion x 2: You may have read about this in earlier weeks, but exhaustion is super common in any pregnancies, let alone a twin pregnancy. Rest, light exercise, and a healthy diet can help, but there’s not too much you can do but ride it out. Luckily, it often improves in the (usually) more comfortable second trimester.
- Breast Changes: Swollen? Tender? Even leaking a little? Yup, breast changes are common in the first trimester. It’s your body’s way of preparing for breastfeeding – regardless of whether that’s in your plans or not.
- Morning Sickness: Alas, morning sickness is also another common symptom throughout the first trimester. Both fruit (especially citrus) and bland food (especially crackers) can be helpful here. Definitely don’t try skipping meals altogether – that can surprisingly be a common nausea trigger.
- Indigestion: Indigestion, heartburn, constipation – they’re all known to pop up around week 9 in twin pregnancies. Oh, the glamor of pregnancy!
- Bloating: Is that a tiny baby bump you see starting to form? Alas, it may just be bloating and gas. Let the glamor of twin pregnancy continue!
- Frequent Urination: Rounding out the list of wonderful twin symptoms is the fact that you’ll likely be running to the ladies room more than usual. That growing uterus means extra pressure added to your bladder. Don’t let it stop your water consumption though – it’s important to drink enough water in a twin pregnancy – just understand that the restroom will be your place of serenity in the weeks and months to come.
Twin Development at 9 Weeks
At 9 weeks, this is the last week your babies can be called “embryos”. Next week, they graduate to being full-blown fetuses!
Another exciting milestone week 9 brings is that your babies hearts are developed enough to hear their heartbeats on a Doppler (a small device used to hear heartbeats during pregnancy). It can sometimes be hard to track down both heartbeats this early on, but if your ultrasound technician, doctor, or midwife can do so, it can be magic to your ears.
It’s not only the heart that has been forming – your twins’ livers, diaphragms, gallbladders, tiny muscles, and spleens are also under development. There are even tiny muscle movements happening in their arms and legs. Whew – no wonder you’re exhausted…look at all the organs your body has been helping to grow!
To Do: 9 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
Ask about prenatal tests. You’ll want to know which ones to get, and at which time. Depending on your specific situation, you may even start looking at scheduling some around now. Speaking with your practitioner and doing your own research will help ensure you’re ready for the tests you need.
Browse maternity clothes. Finding your pants fitting extra tight lately? Your belly is only going to grow (and grow, and grow). While you can use tricks like looping a rubber band through your pants button, or breaking out the stretchy pants, that will only last you so long. It’s time to start looking at maternity clothing. Bear in mind in a twin pregnancy, you may even outgrow your regular maternity clothes at the end, so ones that are flexible (like maternity wrap dresses) are extra helpful.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. We all know the many, many benefits of water. But did you know it’s even more important when you’re pregnant with twins? It will help a plethora of things, including decreasing that pesky constipation, helping heartburn, and even minimizing Braxton Hicks contractions in the later stages of pregnancy. While you’re probably already running to the restroom more than normal, now is the time to guzzle a little extra water.
Combat heartburn. Even though you don’t have a big twin baby bump yet doesn’t mean heartburn hasn’t started. In fact, it’s often one of the earlier symptoms, starting in the second month. Try limiting greasy foods, spicy foods, and talk with your doc about incorporating antacids. Bonus: they usually contain calcium, something you’ll need during your twin pregnancy!
Apply to childcare. What, already?? Yes! Depending on where you live, daycares can be harder to get into than ivy league colleges. It’s best to scan the ones you’d be interested in and learn their application process. Some make you wait until you have a birth certificate before applying, but many more you can apply to well before. Knowing their requirements now can save you lots of stress later.
Start looking at twin baby registries. While it’s a bit early to buy everything, it is a good idea to start putting a twin baby registry together. When people find out you’re expecting twins, they may start eyeing cute baby gear. When that happens, having a registry is so much better than winging it. It lets people know what you actually need and what you already have covered. The good news is we have a great twin registry – take a look at our Minimalist Twin Registry Checklist.
Size of Twins at 9 Weeks
At 9 weeks pregnant, each twin will be roughly the size of a green olive (2.54 centimeters, about 1 inch). Already they’re so much bigger than the tiny seed they were just a few weeks ago!
Some Questions Twin Moms Had for their Doctors in Week 9
- Which prenatal tests are required vs. optional? What week of pregnancy do you typically take them?
- What should I do if I’m having trouble keeping down food and liquids due to morning sickness?
- How many ultrasounds will I get with twins? At which stages?
- What do you think of my nutrition, exercise, and activity plans?
- Is there anything else I should be adjusting in my life right now?
- When will you be able to tell the genders?
- Who should I contact if I have questions between appointments?
- Are there any warning signs I should watch out for?
- Under your care, would I have the option for both a vaginal or caesarian birth? Which factors will help decide which is best for me?
- Is there anything else I should keep in mind around this time?
Twin Pregnancy Belly Photos: Week 9
Week 9 is the only week I didn’t take a bump photo, so please accept this blurry image. If you’re curious about what a twin pregnancy belly progression can look like, check out these twin belly week by week progression photos.
Tips for a Good 9th Week Pregnant with Twins
If you haven’t already, start looking into child care for after your twins arrive.
While it may feel way too early to start thinking about this, you may be surprised at how quickly daycare lists fill up. Some centers even take applications before you become pregnant!
Even if you’re not 100% sure that you’ll go with a daycare, it’s usually a good idea to look into them and place your name on a waitlist, just in case you change your mind (or your preferred childcare option falls through).
Articles to Read at 9 Weeks Pregnant with Twins
Last Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 8
Next Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 10
What Not to Buy When Having Twins
Twin Pregnancy Week By Week Experience
Twin Pregnancy To Do List (free download)
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