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Parents Info
Q. Do I need to eat more or differently than if I were pregnant with one baby?
Yes. Aim for eating an extra 600 calories a day over your usual intake — 300 calories more per day than if you were pregnant with one baby. Eating well — that means more servings of protein, calcium, and carbohydrates, especially whole grains — will increase the odds that you'll have normal babies of healthy weight.
If you want some guidance, see a nutritionist or attend a class, which may be covered by your health insurance. In fact, even if you're just thinking about getting pregnant, start taking a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid; during pregnancy, you'll need 600 micrograms a day. And make sure your prenatal vitamin has sufficient iron, which helps prevent maternal anemia, a common problem in multiple pregnancies. You'll want to get between 30 and 60 milligrams of iron daily throughout your pregnancy. Be sure to discuss supplements with your doctor or midwife.
Drinking plenty of water when you're pregnant is crucial, and even more so when you're carrying more than one; the risk of premature contractions — and early delivery — increases if you become dehydrated. Shoot for a minimum of two quarts a day. Keep a full extra-large glass or plastic water bottle near you at all times, so you can sip water all day long.
Q. How much weight should I gain?
 Not as much as you might think. A woman pregnant with twins needs to gain between 35 and 45 pounds, only about ten pounds more than if she were pregnant with one baby. Gaining too much weight increases the chance of complications such as a cesarean delivery. And while some twin pregnancies do go full-term , roughly half of all twins are delivered before week 37, which means you may end up gaining more weight in the same amount of time as a woman carrying just one baby.
On the other hand, you also need to gain enough weight so that your babies grow to a healthy size. Remember, your pre pregnancy weight helps determine how much weight you should gain. In general, if you were overweight beforehand, you need to gain less weight than women of average weight.
Q. Do I need to stop exercising or modify my lifestyle?
 You will at some point. Whether and how long you can safely remain active during a multiples pregnancy is controversial and mostly depends on your doctor's philosophy and your health. If you feel well enough to exercise vigorously during the first trimester, your doctor may allow you to continue, but she'll probably tell you to cut back in the second trimester, even if your pregnancy is proceeding normally. Gentle aerobic exercise — dancing, swimming, walking, and cycling — may be fine to do throughout your pregnancy as long as you feel comfortable. Ask your doctor or midwife for specific advice.
**Make sure to consult your doctor regarding any doubts that you may have.
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