A twin pregnancy carries with it higher risks for mom-to-be and for the unborn babies so it is important that these risks be known and all precautions taken to assure a healthy twin pregnancy. Many aspects of a twin pregnancy are similar to a singleton pregnancy so some of the advice given to pregnant women in general can be followed by those pregnant with twins. It is critical to understand the special needs of a woman pregnant with twins so that she can receive the care she and the babies need during the pregnancy. Following the tips outlined here and discussing them with your caregiver will lead to important medical conversations that will help you understand the risks involved and what you can do to insure a healthy twin pregnancy.
The first important tip for achieving a healthy twin pregnancy is to be prepared. Like many things in life the more you know about something the better prepared you are to meet any challenges that occur. A twin pregnancy is definitely one of the more important things that a person should prepare themselves for because of the many challenges a woman faces during a twin pregnancy. A woman should prepare for a twin pregnancy by asking all the questions that come to mind whenever she is at the doctor’s office. Keep a notebook handy and each day jot down all the questions that pop up as you go about your daily routine. Take the notebook to each appointment and make sure that someone on staff answers all your questions. Your doctor or midwife will probably give you handouts at your first appointment regarding pregnancy in general and when it is discovered that you are carrying twins you will be given additional information or perhaps given a list of helpful books on twin pregnancy.
You can also ask a librarian to assist you in locating current books and magazines about twin pregnancy.
The second important tip is that with a twin pregnancy it is even more important that mom eat a nutritious diet that includes all the essential vitamins and minerals especially folic acid. WebMD recommends that a mom pregnancy with twins congest 1 milligram of folic acid daily for twin pregnancies. When a woman takes an adequate amount of folic acid during her pregnancy she is helping to prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.
In order to monitor a twin pregnancy those who are pregnant with twins will have medical appointments more frequently than a woman pregnant with just one baby. A good tip is to strive to always keep every appointment that is scheduled so that your pregnancy can be closely monitored and complications can be caught early when it is more likely that a good outcome will result.
A tip that women will welcome when pregnant with twins is to get as much rest as possible. Your body is working hard to nurture two growing bodies so it is important that the mom-to-be get as much rest as possible so she can conserve energy.
Many of the symptoms of pregnancy are more noticeable when there are two babies growing inside of you so you may experience more morning sickness due to higher levels of pregnancy hormones. You may also experience more back pain than women carrying only one baby, have more trouble finding a comfortable position when sleeping and experience more heartburn too. Ask your healthcare provider for safe ways to alleviate these issues. It is important to always ask your healthcare provider before taking any over-the-counter remedy.
A woman pregnant with twins is likely to gain more weight than a mom pregnant with one baby so be prepared by having comfortable, stretchy clothing that will grow with your abdomen throughout the pregnancy. On average a woman pregnant with twins gains between 30 and 35 pounds throughout the pregnancy.
The last tip for women pregnant with twins is to pack the hospital bag early because women pregnant with twins on average go into labor sooner than those getting ready to deliver a single baby. On average women pregnant with twins go into labor around 36 to 37 weeks of pregnancy as opposed to going into labor at 40 to 42 weeks of pregnancy with just one baby.
Reference:
Mann, D. (2010) 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Twin Pregnancies Retrieved 11/26/2010 from http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-twin-pregnancies
