Pregnant With Twins or Triplets

In the US, three percent of pregnant women will give birth to twins or triplets. This number has increased in recent years in part because of a rise in drug-assisted infertility treatments, and also because of an increase in older mums.

Multiple pregnancies
Women expecting twins are at an increased risk of morning sickness, and are more likely to experience back problems because of the extra weight they are carrying. Your pelvic floor is under more stress than during a normal pregnancy, so you should be extra vigilant about doing your pelvic floor exercises. If you are carrying multiple pregnancies, you may find yourself tiring more easily. You should make sure you get enough rest, and listen to your body.

Giving birth to more than one baby
If you are carrying multiple pregnancies, you may have a shorter pregnancy. Twins and more tend to be born earlier, in part because they have less room in which to grow. The placenta becomes less efficient earlier in multiple pregnancies, which could be another reason for the reduced term. For twins, 37 weeks is considered full term, and for triplets this number drops to 34. For quadruples, pregnancy lasts just 32 weeks.

Multiple pregnancies often result in lower birth weights. Multiple pregnancies are more likely to encounter preterm labour and premature birth. If you are worried that you may be experiencing preterm labour, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Multiple pregnancies carry more risk, but is important to remember that these babies are now safer than ever, thanks to advances in medicine.

You should be able to try for a vaginal delivery if you are carrying twins or triplets. Unless there is another reason to opt for assisted delivery, your healthcare provider will recommend a vaginal birth. There is a slightly increased risk of complications arising during labour, but you will have professionals on hand to monitor yourself and your babies throughout the delivery.

Bonding with twins or more
You may be worried that you will struggle to bond with your babies because you’ll be overwhelmed with caring for two or more babies at once. It is true that parents of multiple babies have their work cut out for them, but preparing yourself for this in advance can help. You may like to arrange for extra help following the birth, to allow you to feel rested and able to best care for your babies. Friends and family will no doubt be more than willing to help out for a few hours in exchange for a few cuddles from the twins.

Are you expecting twins?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

5 Practical Tips for Caring for Twins

Caring for one baby isn’t easy, but caring for two babies is without doubt more difficult. After all, you don’t get the peace and quiet during nap time because you probably have a wide awake baby still demanding your attention. And you can’t always respond to your baby’s cries right away because you might be busy caring for your other baby. You’re outnumbered and it’s exhausting. As a twin mama, however, you’ll also know how amazing it is to care for twins. Here are five practical tips for caring for twins:

  1. Bath time

Now that your babies are old enough to sit up by themselves, twin bath time can become a whole lot more enjoyable. Long gone are the days of trying to bathe one baby at a time whilst still entertaining the other baby. Now you can stick both babies happily in the bath where they can splash, giggle and play to their hearts’ content. Remember, you don’t need to bathe your babies every day. Just do it when you can, there’s no need to incorporate it as part of your nightly bedtime routine if you find bath time to be a little stressful still.

  1. Sling cuddles

You really have to be a parent to twins to understand just how hard it is to have two clingy babies suffering from separation anxiety. Most singleton parents will end up in tears by the end of the day, and it is twice as bad for twin mamas. One thing you might find helpful is investing in a sling. This will allow you to carry the cling baby in the wrap so she’s content and still leaves your arms free to care for your other baby. Once you’re feeling confident, you might even progress to a tandem carry and have both babies in the wrap at once (twin mama level: expert).

  1. Keep them in the same room

As your babies are approaching six months, you may be thinking about moving them into their own bedrooms. Your babies were snuggled up tightly together in the womb and have spent most of their lives together, so you may want to let them share a room in your house. The babies will find the company reassuring in the night and you might even find you get a little bit more sleep thanks to the new setup.

  1. Make temporary adjustments

Caring for twins is really difficult now, but it will get easier. One day, you will feel well rested, drink hot drinks and enjoy your sanity again. It may not feel that way now, but it will happen. In the meantime, make adjustments to your life. If your partner can alter his working hours so he’s around at bedtime to help out, do it. If you can get a cleaner to help out around the home and take the pressure off you and your partner, do it. Think about what small changes you could make to make your life easier today.

  1. Remember, it will pass

Looking after twin babies is hard. So hard. But they will grow up and sooner than you think. This high demand baby phase won’t last forever. On the hardest days, try to remember that this will all be over soon. That you’re doing an amazing job. And that nobody expects you, or any other mama, to be perfect. All you can do is your best. Your babies love you and that’s all that matters.

Are you a twin mama? Do you have any sanity saving tips to share?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

5 Helpful Tips for Coping with Twins

Twins. Two babies. Two babies! You probably went into a blind panic when you first discovered you were having twins, but hopefully, things are a little calmer now that they’re actually here. Caring for twins is exhausting, that’s for sure. You don’t often get the luxury of napping while your baby naps because your babies seem to nap at different times. There’s always somebody waiting to be fed, changed or cuddled. It’s not easy, but it is rewarding. Two babies means twice the love, twice the cuddles and twice the giggles. There are few things more rewarding than watching your twins develop a strong bond that will last them a lifetime. It will get easier, but for now, caring for twins is going to be tough at times. Here are five helpful tips to help you cope with twins:

  1. Lower your expectations

This is something all mamas need to do. Life isn’t the same now you’re a mom. You won’t have an immaculate house, a perfectly tweezed brow and your finger on the pulse of popular culture when you’re looking after newborns. It’s just not possible. You can choose to spend the next few months miserable because you’re not superwoman or simply lower your expectations and accept that you’re taking a few months off from life as a high-achieving woman. Slow down, enjoy the moment and forget about the list of things you think you should be doing.

  1. Don’t compare

The absolute worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other parents – especially singleton parents. Each and every mom has her own unique set of challenges, so you simply can’t compare yourself. You’re all individuals facing different circumstances. Just because that mom from baby group managed to shower and do her make up this morning, it doesn’t mean you should have. Remember, you are your own worst enemy. Try to be positive about your own achievements instead of wishing you were other moms.

  1. Reach out to twin moms

The only other people who really understand what you’re going through are the people who are right there with you. Twin parents are the only people who really know what it’s like to have to leave your baby to cry because you’re busy caring for the other one. They’re the parents who really understand sleep deprivation because they’re experiencing two sleep regressions at once. And they’re the people who can share tips and tricks that might just change your life. There might be a twin support group in your local area, offering parents the chance to meet up regularly. If not, you could consider starting your own. If you don’t feel up to that, you could look for online twin parenting communities to join.

  1. Accept all the help

You don’t need to do this all by yourself. Two babies is a lot of babies and accepting help is not a sign of failure. In fact, it’s a good sign that you’re being realistic and trying to take care of yourself as well. You will no doubt have plenty of offers of help from friends and family members desperate for a cuddle with the new babies. Say yes, accept their help with hoovering, food shopping and baby cuddles so that you can tick these jobs off your list. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If it takes a village to raise a child, imagine how many people it takes to raise two!

  1. Don’t forget about yourself

You’re rudely awoken by the cries of one twin early in the morning. After a change, feed and cuddle, that twin falls soundly back to sleep only for the other to wake up. You spend your day desperately trying to meet the needs of two beautiful babies and that is exhausting. You’re sleep deprived, rarely find the time to drink a hot drink and can’t remember the last time you had a bath. It’s hard, but it won’t last forever. Soon you’ll have time to yourself again, but until then, you need to snatch time as and when you need it. After a particularly hard day, leave the babies with your partner so you can enjoy a bath in peace. Go out for a run or simply meet a friend for coffee. Spend a little bit of time doing something that makes you feel a little more like you. You deserve it and you’ve certainly earned it.

What are your top tips for coping with twins?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.