Being pregnant is exhilarating and wonderful, yet, at the same time, it can be terrifying and stressful. This is especially true when you are expecting twins. Carrying multiple babies is different than carrying just one and many women are unclear what to expect. These are five things you can expect carrying twins that you may not experience with a single birth.
More Weight Gain
Because there are two babies, there are also two placentas and additional amniotic fluid. This means that women pregnant with twins will gain more weight than women pregnant with one child. In addition, because you are carrying two babies, you will need to eat more calories while you are pregnant. There are no hard and fast rules for how much weight a woman should gain during pregnancy. However, the Institute of Medicine says that a woman expecting twins should gain between 37 and 54 pounds if they are of average weight when they get pregnant, although some doctors recommend that women pregnant with twins should not gain more than 40 pounds.
Additional Nutrient Requirements
Because you are providing nutrition for two babies rather than one, you will require additional nutrients. Women pregnant with twins require additional folic acid, calcium, iron, protein and other essential nutrients necessary for your babies to grow healthy and to maintain your own health. The best way to get these nutrients is with a healthy diet rich with fruits, vegetables and lean meats. It is possible your doctor may recommend an iron supplement in addition to other vitamins.
Less Energy
Many women who carry twins find that they have less energy than women carrying one child, especially in the third trimester. Remember that you are carrying two babies which is an added burden on your body. Therefore, if you are pregnant with twins it is important to rest whenever you can. Although bed rest is not necessary, getting help with household chores so you do not overtire yourself is a good way to lessen your tiredness. You may find that you have difficulty sleeping at night which can add to the problem. Take any opportunity you get to sleep. You may want to consider taking maternity leave earlier if you are working. This may help with the tiredness, but also because twins often come early.
More Doctor Visits
Because twin pregnancies are considered high risk, you will have more doctor visits when carrying twins than with a single birth. You will also want to find a maternal-fetal specialist, like Dr. Gilbert Webb, that specializes in high risk pregnancies. The number of visits depends on your own situation and whether there have been any complications in this pregnancy or previous pregnancies. In some cases, twins share a placenta. If this is the case, the doctor will want to monitor your pregnancy closely as this can lead to complications.
Possible Medical Conditions
When pregnant with twins, you have a higher risk of developing certain conditions during your pregnancy than women with a single pregnancy. Women pregnant with twins have a higher incidence of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and anemia than women who are having just one child. High blood pressure can lead to preeclampsia which can cause blood flow to be reduced to the baby. This means that the baby may not get enough oxygen or nutrients, causing restricted growth.
These are just a few of the things you can expect when you are pregnant with twins. In many women who are carrying twins, the pregnancy goes as smoothly as women who are carrying one baby, while in others, complications may develop. By talking to your doctor and following the instructions you are given, you have a better chance of delivering two healthy, happy babies at the end of your pregnancy.