Pregnant with twins: antenatal care and birth options Because a twin pregnancy can be more complicated than a single pregnancy, health professionals usually recommend specialist antenatal care. Specialist antenatal care usually involves seeing an obstetrician and a midwife in a hospital twins clinic.
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Is it harder being pregnant with twins?
Rob Atlas, M.D., an ob-gyn at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, calls twin pregnancies “double trouble.” Moms carrying twins are at higher risk for premature birth, high blood pressure, and—especially in the case of identical twins—fetal abnormalities.
Does it feel different to be pregnant with twins?
Early signs of a twin pregnancy include severe morning sickness, quick weight gain, and more breast tenderness. You may also notice an increased appetite or extreme fatigue. Plus, those who have a twin pregnancy may begin showing sooner.
What is the hardest thing about having twins?
Competition between twins starts surprisingly early in life, and the squabbles can become incredibly intense. The constant cycle of fighting and refereeing is a burden on parents. Many parents would agree, the squabbling and competition between twins is one of the hardest things about parenting them.
Is pregnancy worse with twins?
7: If you’re pregnant with twins, you may gain more weight than if you’re carrying one child. “With twins, mothers gain more weight as there are two babies, two placentas, and more amniotic fluid,” says Al-Khan. “You also need more calories for twin pregnancies.”
Is C section safer for twins?
Most recent retrospective studies state there is no advantage to be found in elective C-section over vaginal delivery in the case of twin births in which the first twin is in cephalic presentation and the second is not in cephalic presentation 23, 24, 25.
Is bed rest common with twins?
Bed rest during a multiple pregnancy is sometimes used as a way to prevent complications,1 but it is not a requirement for all twin pregnancies. If everything progresses normally during your twin pregnancy, you may not require bed rest.
Does being pregnant with twins make you more tired?
Extreme fatigue is the most commonly reported complaint during pregnancy with multiples. Sleepiness, lethargy, and exhaustion during the first trimester can be enhanced because the body is working overtime to nurture more than one baby.
How should I sleep when pregnant with twins?
Here are some tips to help you get a more restful night’s sleep when you’re pregnant.
- Take Naps. B2M Productions / Getty Images.
- Try a Body Pillow. Amazon.
- Try a Recliner. Tim Hawley / Getty Images.
- Eat and Drink Properly. Geri Lavrov / Getty Images.
- Relax. JGI / Tom Grill / Getty Images.
- Ask Your Doctor.
What are early signs of twins?
What Are the Earliest Signs of Being Pregnant with Twins?
- Are there signs that you’re carrying twins? As soon as pregnancy begins, your body begins to produce hormones and undergo physical changes.
- Morning sickness.
- Fatigue.
- High hCG.
- Second heartbeat.
- Measuring ahead.
- Early movement.
- Increased weight gain.
At what age do twins get easier?
Some say that twins are always hard (yet amazing), while others say they truly didn’t find them to be difficult. A few said that the first two months with twins are easy (being in the rose-colored glasses phase), then reality hits from months 3-6 (when the sleep deprivation catches up), then it can get easier again.
What are the disadvantages of having twins?
With twins, you’re at greater risk for:
- Premature birth. Twins are born prematurely more than half the time.
- Low birth weight (LBW). More than half of twins are born with LBW, weighing less than 5 1/2 pounds.
- Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).
What is the best part of having a twin?
11 positives to having twins, triplets or more
- The extra help. When friends and family find out it’s twins, they’re so excited to help – offers to sit down, snacks, little errands.
- Holding them.
- Feeling special.
- Watching them grow.
- The backup.
- Being stronger.
- Being the same age.
- Birthdays.
Can I carry twins to full term?
That’s why full-term for twins is considered 38 weeks, not the typical 40 weeks. Preterm birth — delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy — is the most common complication when you’re pregnant with multiples. About 50 percent of twins are born early. Twin delivery, on average, occurs around 35 to 36 weeks.
Which parent carries twin gene?
The quick answer to this question is that, in a twin pregnancy, it is the mother’s genes that determine twins. First up, giving birth to identical twins is not genetic, but conceiving fraternal twins is. The mother may have the genetic trait of releasing two eggs in one menstrual cycle.
What to expect pregnant with twins?
If you’re carrying multiples, you can expect: More-frequent checkups. You’ll see your health care provider often to track your babies’ growth and development, monitor your health, and watch for signs of preterm labor. You might need frequent ultrasounds or other tests, especially as your pregnancy progresses.
How long do you stay in hospital after having twins?
“That goes up to 80 percent with triplets, and even higher for quads.” How long they stay in the hospital varies. For twins, the average stay is nine to 25 days. For triplets it’s 11 days to up to three months. And for quads or more, it’s longer.
At what week can twins survive?
The second milestone is 28 weeks, when viability skyrockets. Ninety percent of babies who make it to this stage of gestation survive. Long-term complications — including cerebral palsy, vision and breathing problems — are still a possibility, however.
How is labor different with twins?
Pregnancy with twins has a higher rate of pre-term labor, resulting in delivery between 35 and 37 weeks. This is because your uterus can’t tell if there are two small babies or one full-term baby inside. It just knows that it’s time to deliver.
How many weeks is full term for twins?
While 40 weeks is the full gestation period of the average pregnancy, most twin pregnancies are delivered at approximately 36 weeks (range 32-38 weeks depending on the type of twin pregnancy).
When should I stop working while pregnant with twins?
It’s a good idea to leave a period for rest and relaxation at the end of your pregnancy, and most people who’ve experienced this recommend stopping work at some time between 28 and 30 weeks.