What should I know about having twins or multiples?

The discovery that you are having twins can be doubly exciting, but can also cause double the anxiety!  There are several things you can be aware of to prepare for the months to come.

First, you should be aware that the symptoms of pregnancy can be worse with multiples, but this is not always the case.  Women who are pregnant with twins are more likely to have morning sickness, for example.  Other common symptoms that can be amplified can include inability to sleep, fatigue, general discomfort and pain, water retention and swollen legs, nausea, and problems moving about easily.

Women who are pregnant with multiples generally go into labor preterm (before 37 weeks) in greater numbers than single pregnancies.  Many of these (about 1/3 of twin pregnancies) will deliver early.  The earlier the babies are born, the less twins are likely to weigh, and the less they weigh, the greater their chances of health problems.

In the past, most multiples were delivered by cesarean.  Today, vaginal birth is generally considered save and often preferred for multiples.  If your babies are positioned in such a way that neither can move, they are considered "locked" and will have be be delivered via cesarean.

There are several things you can do when pregnant with multiples to reduce various risks:

-  Eat a nutritional and balanced diet.  Following a healthy diet can help lower your babies' risk of low birthweight. Thus, when eating for three or more, be sure to consume about 300 additional calories along with one additional protein serving, one additional calcium serving and one additional whole grains serving.

-  Take extra medical precautions.  Expert medical monitoring can help reduce many of the risks associated with multiple pregnancies. By adhering to your appointment schedule—which will be more frequent—you can ensure that you are getting the best care possible.

 
-  Make sure to gain enough weight.  Due to the extra baby and the extra baby by-products, your practitioner will most likely advise a carefully monitored weight gain of at least 35 to 45 pounds.

-  Get enough rest.  Your body will be working twice as hard.  It will need twice as much rest. Take regular breaks from your daily activities.  Get at least eight hours of sleep to help insure that your body is properly rested. Your doctor may prescribe taking an early leave from work, getting help with the housework and even bed rest at home.

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