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Parents Info
 So you have found out you are pregnant with Multiples! You may be experiencing a range of emotions from delight to apprehension. You could be weeping uncontrollably or blissfully happy at the thought of having multiple arrivals instead of just one. (Trust me both my wife and I went through it).
First of all take a deep breath and try to relax... yeah right! Really, try to relax... it's hard but rest assure, you have an ally on your side... Multiples Outlet.com will be here for you! Remember if for some reason you are unsure what on earth to do with one baby let alone two, don’t despair... you are not alone. First and foremost, trying not to panic will help, as will talking to anyone who already has twins. Join our multiples forums, reading as much literature as you can get your hands on, talking your fears and joys through with your partner and friends, looking after your own health carefully and so on.
I’m going to try and answer some of the most common questions about Multiples we have recieved
Q. How does a multiples pregnancy differ from a single baby pregnancy?
A. You might find that your symptoms of Early Pregnancy are greater than if you
just had one on board. You may feel:
Extremely tired
Nauseous, I mean... very nauseous
Extremely weepy
Have incredibly sore breasts
You may be irritable
Have other symptoms similar to PMS
Some people have all of the above listed symptoms very badly others are lucky and do not suffer too much at all. (If you find one congratulate them for me!) These are symptoms we have experienced ourselves or had other multiples moms talk about.
Q. Do I have to go through Labor Twice? Will I have to have a caesarean?
A. To answer the last question first, having a caesarean is something that some people will have with a multiple pregnancy. This largely depends on whether or not you have had a caesarean for other previous births, how your twins are lying in the womb, other medical factors and so on.
If one or both babies are head first down when you are ready to give birth you will probably be
encouraged to give birth vaginally, possibly with the use of an epidural, depending on your doctor’s view on giving birth. It would be well worth your while asking your doctor fairly early on what options you have for your babies’ birth to get a clear picture in your mind as to how things are likely to proceed.
A twin birth is slightly different from a single birth in that after one baby is born you repeat
the second stage of labor (the pushing part) the first and third part is the same as with a single pregnancy, so in other words... lots of pushing to get multiples! Phew!
Q. When will I feel my babies move?
A. This largely depends whether or not you have already had children and the size of your babies. If you have already had children you may find that you feel them move earlier than if this pregnancy is your first. (Believe it or not that is what happened to my wife, and she convinced her doctor to do an ultrasound and... Bingo!! The twins
were there!) Also, if your babies are small you may not feel them move until a little later than if you had just one larger baby. The average stage of a
pregnancy when the babies’ movements can be felt by the mother is around 15-17weeks. If you are at all concerned about whether your babies are moving or
not then consult your doctor to have your mind put at rest.
Q. I am worried about getting stretch marks on my tummy what can I do?
A. Invest in a good Anti stretch mark cream and use it liberally, it will not necessarily prevent them totally but may make them seem less vivid. If you would prefer coco butter lotion has won rave reviews, in helping minimize those pesky marks!
Some doctors say that stretch marks are a genetic factor in pregnancy, check with your mom.
Q. Is it difficult to care for Multiples? Does it get better?
A. Ok... that question takes some explaining. Yes it is difficult, but with some organizational skills you can make life with multiples a little less crazy. Does it get better... let me think... hmm... Well, let’s explain. First, everyone’s opinion is different. However, bringing home multiples for the first time is quite a job. Here are some tips to help you get settled.
1. If ANYONE offers to help, ACCEPT. Never decline help in the first weeks. You will need it more than you think. Furthermore, NEVER decline help! No matter how old your angels get, you can always use help!
2. Buy diapers every paycheck, if you can, until your little angels are born. This expense alone can add stress to an already stressful situation. You might even ask friends or family to throw you a “diaper shower”.
3. Start your little angels on a feeding schedule right away. My wife always fed our twins at the same time. (Thanks to that we had some extra time to sleep)
Sound difficult for you breastfeeding moms, my wife reports that it was actually a piece of cake (once she got the hang of it). Just check with
your lactation consultant and she will show you the famous “football hold”, and just how to handle feeding two babies at one time.
If you choose not to breastfeed or are just a bit uncomfortable breastfeeding two at once then try having dad (or designated helper) lend a hand. Get both bottles ready and start the feedings!
Breast pump! Get one of these if you are breastfeeding (I will recommend an electric one). You will want to sleep at some point. Pump when you are not feeding and let dad (or designated helper) help during the night hours. You will need your rest!
4. Keep thermometers, diapers, blankets, wipes, hats, and socks handy. The first couple of weeks you will be recuperating too. The more you have to move and do the less rest you get. Invent a wonderful babies and mommy sanctuary. Bring along your favorite luxury items, and your babies, and enjoy your little angels.
5. If they sleep, you sleep. Don’t try to be super mom! There is plenty of time for that. For now remember that you are recovering from giving birth to multiples. Although you may feel fine, follow your doctor’s orders carefully. Take it easy and rest when you can.
6. Try to find a willing sitter at least once a week. Take at least a couple of hours for yourself. Even if it is just to take a walk around the block, go shopping, watch a movie, or take a warm bath... you need your very own quiet time.
7. Be happy! You have given birth to beautiful gifts from God! Tackle each hurdle as it comes and remember that we all make it through and so will you! One day you will look back and give advice to the next mom of multiples!
Q. How will my medical care differ with multiples?
Most doctors consider multiple pregnancies higher risk, compared to a single pregnancy, but this doesn't automatically mean you'll have problems. Certainly your health care provider will monitor you carefully, more so than if you were pregnant with one baby. You and your provider are a team, working together to ensure that your pregnancy goes full-term --or as close to full-term as possible. Roughly half of all multiples are delivered before week 37, but unless and until you're forced to deliver early, keep your goal of going the distance firmly in mind.
Expect more prenatal appointments, usually every two to three weeks in the first and second trimesters, and weekly visits beginning early in the third trimester. Besides monitoring your health, your doctor will want to keep close tabs on the babies' growth. You'll probably have between four and six ultrasounds just to make sure the multiples are developing properly. You'll also undergo what's known as fetal surveillance (tests to monitor the babies' movements, heart rate, and breathing) or evaluations such as the non-stress test(which allows your doctor to listen to the babies' heartbeats) in the third trimester.
Q. Do I need to switch my doctor to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist?
Not really. Most women carrying multiples don't need to see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, also known as a perinatologist (an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies) unless their pregnancy poses a complication their doctor doesn't feel comfortable handling.
Remember, doctors' training and experience vary widely. Get a sense of whether your doctor has cared for a lot of women pregnant with more than one baby. Most obstetricians routinely take care of patients with multiples, but they may consult with a maternal-fetal medicine specialist if faced with an unfamiliar complication. However, if you have a rare or serious condition or if you're pregnant with triplets or more, you'll probably need to meet with or switch to a specialist at some point in your pregnancy.
Q. Can I see a midwife instead of an obstetrician?
Sure, but probably not exclusively. If you belong to a group practice or an HMO, you may be able to schedule some of your prenatal visits with a midwife, particularly if you want some of the more personalized care that is a midwife's specialty. But you'd be wise to have an obstetrician check your progress in at least some of your prenatal appointments. When the time comes to deliver, a midwife will most likely be able to do the birth, especially if both babies are positioned headfirst.
Q. What are the risks for the babies?
Women go into pre-term labor (which generally means before 37 weeks) in nearly half of all multiples pregnancies, far more often than do women carrying only one baby. Overall about one-third of women.
Q. What are other potential complications of having multiples?
Aside from pre-term delivery, the most common problems include:
Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-induced high blood pressure disorder, develops in about 10 to 20 percent of women carrying multiples, twice the rate in women pregnant with one baby. The condition also tends to develop earlier and be more severe in women carrying twins or more babies.
Placental abruption, when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before delivery, is also more common when you're carrying more than one baby. But the condition is mostly linked to malnutrition and smoking, and is rare in well-nourished expectant mothers. Placental abruption can lead to pre-term labor and delivery and is responsible for about one in five twin deaths late in the pregnancy or in the babies' first month outside the womb.
Fetal growth restriction, when one or more babies aren't growing at the proper rate, may cause the babies to be born prematurely or at a low birth weight. Up to almost half of pregnancies with more than one baby have this problem compared with slightly more than 10 percent of single pregnancies.
Q. Are these problems treated
That depends how far along the pregnancy is. Regardless of the condition, once you get to about 36 weeks you're considered out of the danger zone, and the risk of delivering a premature or low-birth weight baby drops considerably. Beforehand, the problem may require medications, hospitalization, or bed rest. Your doctor will balance your risk of developing complications with your risk of delivering premature multiples and decide with you how to maximize your babies' chances of survival.
Q. What can I do to prevent serious problems and make sure I'll have healthy babies?
While many complications of twin pregnancies have little to do with your behavior or lifestyle, getting an early confirmation that you are indeed carrying multiples will give your health care provider plenty of time to catch and treat any complications that may crop up.
Also, educate yourself about the more common risks and complications of a twin pregnancy while not obsessing about all the things that can go wrong. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs of pre-term labor. Make sure you are well nourished and well hydrated. And, while it may sound obvious, don't miss prenatal appointments, and follow your provider's instructions.
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