As more women wait to start their families or turn to infertility treatments, more and more women are finding themselves pregnant with twins.<\/p>\n
In fact, the rate of twin births has increased 76 percent in the last three decades alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re having twins or multiples, you may be feeling overwhelmed by all the extra gear you need\u2014 but you need to remember that your health and your babies\u2019 health are your top priority.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you can expect and how you can prepare when you\u2019re expecting more than one.<\/p>\n
1. Put your health first<\/b>
\nBe sure you\u2019re eating healthy and staying sufficiently hydrated because your nutritional needs are different when you\u2019re pregnant with twins . Also, listen to your body, don\u2019t disregard symptoms like cramping and discharge\u2014 call your doctor to be safe.<\/p>\n
2. Expect more aches and pains<\/b>
\n\u201cOur bodies were only really meant to carry one,\u201d said Natalie Diaz, author of \u201cWhat To Do When You\u2019re Having Two\u201d and founder of Twiniversity.
\nWith twins, your uterus grows twice as much and your belly twice as quickly, so expect to have back pain and round ligament pain. You may start feeeling uncomfortable as early as 25 weeks. \u00a0And with so much extra weight, especially on your cervix and pelvis, you may have to cut back on work hours or even go on bed rest.<\/p>\n
3. Clear your schedule for more doctor\u2019s visits<\/b>
\nYou\u2019ll likely see a high-risk doctor who will make sure you\u2019re healthy and your babies are growing well\u2014 but who may also require more appointments<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have you under a microscope,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n
After 30 weeks, you may have sonograms every week to make sure your amniotic fluid levels are adequate and your babies are growing well.<\/p>\n
4. Find support now<\/b>
\nA study in the journal Pediatrics found that moms of multiples were 43 percent more likely to have moderate or severe postpartum depressive symptoms than moms who had singletons.
\nMany moms who have twins have already struggled with miscarriage and infertility, which can put even more stress on them, \u00a0said Dr. Shelly Vaziri Flais, a clinical instructor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and author of \u201cRaising Twins: Parenting Multiples from Pregnancy Through the School Years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ask for help from a family member or friend, hire a babysitter or mother\u2019s helper and look for organizations or online communities for moms of multiples.<\/p>\n
5. Get ready early<\/b>
\nFull term for twins is 37 weeks, but be prepared because you may go into labor earlier.
\n\u201cThe more babies you carry, the earlier you\u2019re going to deliver,\u201d Vaziri Flais said.<\/p>\n
6. Tour the NICU<\/b>
\nAlthough many babies born after 34 weeks don\u2019t need to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),, it\u2019s a good idea to take a tour of your hospital\u2019s facilities anyway. Make sure the hospital has a level III NICU or above and ask about their advanced units.<\/p>\n
Even if your babies are in the NICU, the good news is that \u201cthe majority of twin pregnancies do proceed smoothly and have healthy outcomes,\u201d Vaziri Flais said.<\/p>\n
7. Stay positive<\/b>
\nIf your babies are in the NICU, or go home with medical problems, don\u2019t expect the worst.
\n\u201cYou should never be anything but positive, and then you worry about something when someone tells you to worry,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n
8. Get a twin feeding pillow<\/b>
\nWhile you\u2019re at the hospital, request a visit with the lactation consultant, but also talk to every single person who walks into hospital room because every culture has a different way of breastfeeding and their techniques might help you, Diaz said.
\nPurchase a twin feeding pillow and alternate your babies and breasts at each feeding to keep your milk supply equal.<\/p>\n
9. Have a routine<\/b>
\nThe earlier you get your babies on the same feeding and sleep schedule, the easier it will be. So even if only one wakes up for a feeding, wake the other one up so their schedules will eventually be in sync.<\/p>\n
10. Ride the storm<\/b>
\nChances are, your babies will be teething and sick at the same time as one another and although it will be tough, remember: As they get older and you\u2019ve been through it a few times, it will get easier.<\/p>\n
11. Make time for your partner<\/b>
\n\u201cNobody thinks about preparing their marriage,\u201d Diaz said.
\nSince couples who have twins are more likely to end up divorced, it\u2019s important that you make time for each other, get out as often as you can for a date night and make sex a priority.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: Foxnews<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As more women wait to start their families or turn to infertility treatments, more and more women are finding themselves pregnant with twins. In fact, the rate of twin births has increased 76 percent in the last three decades alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you\u2019re having twins or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":28275,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[15],"yoast_head":"\n