Will the side effects of pregnancy be much worse with a multiple pregnancy?

The signs of pregnancy may well be the same when you are expecting two or more babies, but the likelihood is that some of them may well be exaggerated. Symptoms of morning sickness, fatigue and even exhaustion, inability to sleep, swollen hands and feet seem to be generally increased¹. Weight gain will be more rapid and will be greater for mother s with more than one baby on board, and the uterus size will measure larger for gestational age. Unfortunately, multiples mothers tend to take on more fluid and suffer more notable varicosities than singleton mothers. The extra weight and size of two or more babies may also cause more constipation, haemorrhoids (piles), urinary tract infections and vaginal thrush infections.

The majority of these enhanced signs and symptoms of pregnancy can be monitored and eased with advice from the midwife or doctor, so do not suffer alone. For more advice and support, contact Tamba - the Twins and Multiple Birth Association (www.tamba.org.uk); Twins UK (www.twinsuk.co.uk), and The Multiple Births Foundation (www.multiplebirths.org.uk), who also produce information leaflets for parents.

¹Cooper C (2004) Twins & Multiple Births - The Essential Parenting Guide from Pregnancy to Adulthood. Vermilion - Random House.