What a difference an extra baby can make!
Pregnant women often face a variety of reactions from those around them. Some people are eager to offer food or their seat, while others might try to touch the expectant mother’s belly without consent (yikes!). Then there are the jokesters who can’t resist asking, “Are there twins in there?” (Spoiler alert: Not funny.) While it can sometimes feel like you’re carrying two babies, the visual difference between a twin pregnancy and one with a single baby is quite evident.
YouTube content creator Emily Carter, who is already a mom to two-year-old twin boys, Lucas and Mason, is now expecting a baby girl. She recently posted a video showcasing her belly at 36 weeks during each pregnancy, revealing some incredible contrasts.
Every pregnancy is unique, and expectant mothers carry their babies in various ways. For Carter, it has been clear from the start how her body responds differently when carrying twins versus a singleton. She shares a side-by-side of her bumps at 27 weeks, illustrating the striking differences.
In her video, Carter talks about the contrasts between her twin pregnancy and her current experience. While expecting twins is thrilling, being pregnant with just one baby this time has its perks. “I had so many more doctor’s appointments,” she notes regarding her first pregnancy. Twin pregnancies are often categorized as high-risk, even without additional health issues. “I’ve really enjoyed having the freedom to go a couple of months between doctor visits this time because I’m not high-risk,” she explains.
Carter mentions the added stress of frequent doctor visits during her twin pregnancy, especially as she approached the end of her term. “I have different cravings this time around, but I’m also pregnant during a different season,” she tells Home Insemination Kit. “With my twins, I craved fresh fruit and ice water since it was a spring/summer pregnancy. Now, during this fall/winter pregnancy, I want ALL the comfort food—especially hot wings!”
Another advantage? Her body is already accustomed to being stretched. “My first pregnancy was challenging because my body had never gone through that before. Everything was new—my torso had never expanded, my hips had never widened, and my back had never carried that much extra weight,” she recalls. Now, with her current pregnancy, she feels the benefits of having been stretched before. “My body is handling things much better this time,” she adds.
While juggling two energetic toddlers is a workout on its own, having a smaller bump this time around has made it easier for her to move around. “During my twin pregnancy, I had this gigantic belly that felt like a shelf,” she jokes. “It was heavy, and my skin was so stretched. By the end, I also dealt with a miserable PUPPP rash.”
As a fellow twin mom, I’ve often contemplated how my belly would have looked with just one baby or how the experiences would differ. Thanks to Emily Carter’s insights, we now have a clearer picture of those contrasts.
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In summary, the differences between carrying twins and a single baby are not just about the number of appointments or cravings; they are also reflected in how a mother’s body adapts and responds to the pregnancy journey.