We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
When you get pregnant, you often wonder when you're going to start showing.
Maybe it's because you're excited to show off your baby bump and you can't wait until it makes an appearance.
Or maybe it's because you're hoping to keep your impending parenthood a secret from, say, your workplace until you're further along.
Whatever your reason, every pregnancy—and its corresponding pregnancy belly—is different.
Some people who are carrying twins don't begin showing until they're much further along.
On the flip side, some people who are carrying twins start to see that burgeoning bump much sooner.
For me, around 11 weeks, I was already showing quite a bit and my belly was growing substantially every week from that point on. My own mother was already secretly wondering if I was carrying twins, and I was still under the impression that I was carrying only a single baby at that point. I didn't have long before people would begin wondering.
Whether you start to show earlier or later, your belly will grow as your babies do, and their weight will add to the load you're carrying around.
Someone who's carrying twins will be around the same size at 29 or 30 weeks' along as someone who's carrying a single baby at full-term.
But the one who's carrying twins will still have several weeks to go (hopefully) before they're set to deliver their babies.
This means their load will continue to get heavier during those last weeks, and as anyone who's been pregnant knows, it's exhausting by the end.
No matter how many babies you're growing, the strain on your pregnant body is real.
No matter how many babies you're growing, the strain on your pregnant body is real. And when your babies really start packing on the pounds, it can be tough to carry the extra weight around.
Sitting can be uncomfortable. Getting up and down out of said seat can get dicey.
Walking around or completing simple tasks can be an incredible exertion on your Baby-Mama-Body, nevermind the fact that you need to be hyper aware of how much extra real estate your expanding belly now needs, so you don't accidentally bump your baby bump into obstacles in your path.
Some mothers-to-be are ordered on bed rest at a certain point. Others are encouraged to keep up with their daily routines, as long as it's not too hard on their body.
I was in the second camp, but I was barely into the second trimester of my twin pregnancy when I began asking my sister, who'd also had twins, when she started to really struggle with the extra load and added pressure and if she had any tips to take off some of the tension.
Getting around, in general, was still doable, but rolling over in bed, sitting at my desk for prolonged periods, or walking at a comfortable pace for more than a few minutes was a recipe for a sore back.
And I still had five months to go before my twins' due date.
Spoiler alert, they ended up being born six-and-a-half weeks early, so I can't imagine how I'd have fared if I'd made it closer to their due date and they'd weighed substantially more.
It's all about support
No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy, if you're feeling the extra weight and looking for some comfort until your babies are delivered, there are ways to lighten the load—or at least support it—while your babies keep growing.
Here are three ways you can support your growing pregnancy belly and reduce some of the associated discomfort.
1. Wear a belly band
As your pregnant belly grows, it can impact your posture and comfort. A belly band can provide the support you need to relieve some of the discomfort that comes with carrying around the extra weight of your little ones.
These bands can be worn while you go about your daily activities, during light exercise, or even while you sleep. Check with your health care provider to see what might work the best for you.
TwinsyTwins Shop
Ease Pregnancy Belly Band by KeaBabies
Breathable & Lightweight Support
This is the Ease Pregnancy Belly Band by KeaBabies. It's a breathable and lightweight band that evenly distributes your belly weight to provide gentle support for your growing bump, your back, your stretching ligaments, and your pelvic floor. It's machine-washable and features a soft hook-and-loop closure for an easy and adjustable fit. It's suitable for use from 12 weeks' along and onward.
2. Use kinesiology tape
Kinesiology tape can be used to provide effective support and relieve back pain while you're pregnant.
Strips can be placed strategically on your back or abdomen to distribute weight evenly to alleviate the aches and pains that come with your growing bump.
There are different taping techniques that can be used, depending on the type of pain you have (low-back pain vs. pelvic girdle pain vs. abdominal discomfort vs. shortness of breath).
TwinsyTwins Shop
Bump Kinesiology Tape by Heali
Infused for Pain Relief
This is Bump Kinesiology Tape by Heali. It's developed by women for women and is endorsed and tested by OBGYNs. This pack of pregnancy tape comes with 15 pre-cut strips, making for easy application. The tape is made of synthetic silk and infused to provide pain relief and reduce the appearance of stretch marks while also supporting your growing belly. Each strip contains a mixture of magnesium to enhance muscle flexibility, relieve pregnancy-related cramps, and reduce lactic acid, vitamin E to improve skin texture and elasticity, and jojoba oil to moisturize and reduce stretch marks with its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Hug a pregnancy pillow
Pregnancy pillows can provide a variety of benefits throughout your pregnancy by improving your spine alignment, reducing pressure on your lower back and hips, and enhancing your circulation.
Using one of these pillows can help with the swelling and aches that are common in pregnant women.
When used properly, they can also help lessen other discomforts you may experience throughout the trimesters, like heartburn, acid reflux, and nasal congestion.
TwinsyTwins Shop
Pregnancy Pillow by Oternal
Adjustable Wedge Pillow
This is a foam wedge pregnancy pillow by Oternal. Designed to be used from the first trimester until delivery, this maternity pillow is engineered to allow you to adjust the distance between the two pillows to suit your needs as they change throughout your pregnancy. This pillow is compact and lightweight and its cover is detachable for easy washing. This pillow can be used to support your back during the day, can be placed under your legs while you're sitting, or can be wedged between your back and your belly for extra support while you sleep at nighttime.
Bring on the comfort
Finding comfort while you're pregnant with twins can be tough. Taking it easy when your body tells you to slow down is important, and if you're ever unsure of any pain you're feeling, be sure to talk to your doctor to make sure it's not something more serious.
For the general day-to-day discomforts that come with being pregnant, belly bands, kinesiology tape, and maternity pillows are all designed to help alleviate some of the pain you may experience while your little ones continue to grow.
Did you use any of these methods to alleviate discomfort while you were pregnant? What did you find helped best? Let us know in the Comments section below.
Read more
Spread the Love AND the Knowledge During Women's Heart Week 2025
The first week of February is Women's Heart Week. While it's important to take good care of yourself—and your heart!—all year long, the first week of February is aimed at raising awareness of heart disease in women, promoting healthy lifestyles, and teaching people about the symptoms and prevention of heart disease. Heart disease can affect women of all ages. As the most common health...
Creating an Amazon Baby Registry is as Easy as 1-2-3!
Considering babies are so petite, they sure come with a shocking amount of paraphernalia. Just one baby requires almost more than you can carry, and when you're carrying twins, that amount basically doubles. You don't need two of absolutely everything, but you do need to double-up on most items. Luckily, we found out we were expecting twins before we bought everything we needed for...
How Likely Am I to Have Identical Twins? This Kit Will Tell You
When you find out you're expecting a baby and then—SURPRISE!—you find out it's actually twins, you may feel like you've won the lottery! I mean, what are the chances of having twins?! In Canada, approximately 1 in 31 births results in twins or higher-order multiples. In the United States, this statistic is almost the same, with about 32.1 out of every 1,000 births resulting in twins...
Ten Ways to Make Mother's Day Memorable This Year
Mother's Day is just around the corner and you may be racking your brain on what you can do to make the day extra special for your mom. Just like every kid is different, so is every mama. Some might want to kick back and relax, while others may want to seize the day. Whatever you decide your mom would prefer, she's bound to appreciate the thought and effort you put into making the day...