OMG, 16 weeks!! You are ROCKING this second trimester! What can you expect at 16 weeks pregnant with twins? We’ve compiled a list of common symptoms, to-do’s this week, pregnancy tips, pregnancy concerns, questions to ask your doctor, advice from other pregnant moms of twins, and tons of other info below to help you through this week in your twins pregnancy. Enjoy!
Your twins each weigh about 3.5 oz, which is about the size of an avocado.
Though the hair isn’t visible yet, patterning on your twins’ skulls has begun. Their legs are more developed and their ears are close to their final position.
To-do list
Paint and decorate the nursery. If you start working on this now, you might be able to finish before you are too pregnant to physically manage it. But where’s the fun in that? Enlist a few close friends to help with decor, furniture assembly/arrangement. Here’s some tips on planning your nursery for twins.
If your friends/family are planning on a baby shower, tell them to schedule it prior to 30 weeks pregnant. That way you can be (pretty) sure you can attend! Some twin moms are put on bed rest early and have to postpone their showers until after the babies arrive. Another idea if you’re on bed rest — have the party come to you! Plop down on your couch and let everyone treat you for the day.
Book your hospital tour and infant CPR/first aid class. On your tour, be sure to see where the NICU and operating room are. In case no one told you, you will be delivering in the OR, whether it’s a vaginal or c-section delivery. As for the infant CPR/first aid class, this is a MUST DO. Every person that will care for your babies alone must take this class, so go ahead and sign up your parents, your nanny, etc. to join you.
5 tips for a better 16th week
Take Tylenol (acetaminophen) followed with a caffeinated drink for the headaches.
Stay busy to keep the day moving and the symptoms less noticeable.
Start wearing some fitted clothes to show your bump. It makes the pregnancy feel much more real!
Enjoy your energy and that your bump is not that big to go out and “do what you need to do” to prepare for the babies.
Start to think about putting your nursery together and other “big purchases” for the babies.
Our new digital twin pregnancy journal is up for sale on the Twiniversity Etsy store! This is the first and only digital journal exclusively for twin pregnancy. It’s the perfect way to record your precious twin pregnancy memories to cherish for years to come. Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our expecting twins classes and Twiniversity Shop!
Advice from other twin moms
Start prepping for babies while you still have some energy. Then you will be more prepared if you have to go on bed rest or deliver early. – Mariah, Minnesota
It’s ok to listen to advice or tips and just nod your head and say thank you. Stick with your plan and what you feel comfortable with. Everyone will share their story about their one friend with multiples, when they delivered, and how early, and if they were in the NICU or not. Keep your focus on you and your babies and don’t stress over what you can’t control. – Meg F., Chicago, IL
Enjoy your level of energy and small bump to boost things up and start really get things going for the babies. You don’t know if you are going to need bed rest by the end of your pregnancy or if you are going to be comfortable to move at all. Get things done so you have less to be concern later. – Tatiana Z., Chesapeake, VA
Exercise will give you more energy. Don’t delay eating for too long. Get a good amount of sleep. Use that maternity wear! Rub oil on the belly. – Donelle W.’
Even if you appetite is increasing, resist eating big meals. Sticking to smaller meals throughout the day helps with indigestion. – Alyson C., Black Mountain NC
Concerns other twin moms
My delivery options (or lack thereof)
How are the babies doing?
How are we going to afford things when they’re here?
How is our life is going to change once they’re born?
I’m growing a lot these last two weeks. How big will I get and when? When will I start to be uncomfortable?
If you’ve chosen to do a Multiple Marker Screen (MMS, a.k.a. Triple or Quad Screen Test), you’ll have blood drawn between week 15 pregnancy and week 20. This screening measures levels of certain proteins and hormones in a mom-to-be’s blood to give her a more accurate assessment of baby’s risk of neural tube defects than the first-trimester screening offers.
Amniocentesis is another elective test—it happens between weeks 15 and 20. This invasive test can diagnose neural tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities, and other genetic disorders. It’s considered safe overall but does pose some risks, so talk it over with your doctor to decide whether or not you’ll have the procedure. You may choose amnio if you have an abnormal triple or quad test or if your baby has a higher risk of genetic abnormalities.
For the amniocentesis, the doctor will use the ultrasound to see inside your pregnant belly and will guide a needle into the amniotic sac to gather a sample of fluid to be tested.
Check out all our Twiniversity merch in our SHOP! We’ve got twin mom and dad t-shirts, twin planning printables, lactation support, twin baby shower planners & games, a digital twin pregnancy journal, and so much more! Start shopping now
To put it simply, the ligament that holds your uterus in place is going to stretch quite a bit, and it’s going to hurt. You may get stuck in the middle of the street and not be able to take another step. This is motherhood. This is what we signed up for. Any time anything like this happened to me, my sister would remind me that I paid extra for this. And it was all worth every penny.
From the Mom Squad: “I was least prepared for how much I actually enjoyed pregnancy. After hearing about and reading about all the discomforts of pregnancy and all the things that can go wrong with a twin pregnancy, I think I became overly focused on the downsides. Yes, it was difficult and uncomfortable and scary, but it was also amazing and wonderful. I gained a whole new appreciation for my body because of what it was able to do during pregnancy.” Cynthia M.
Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.
Want to get weekly emails about your twin pregnancy? Sign up for the Twiniversity email list! Subscribe today to get emails about giveaways, events, weekly article roundups, and more! We’ll be sending you a weekly twin pregnancy email to keep you on track with your pregnancy to-do list! Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our expecting twins classes and personal twin parent coaching services.
