Twin Pregnancy Tips: Healthy Mom, Healthy Babies!

There is no way to truly prepare yourself for the drastic changes your body and your life will undergo as you become a parent of twins. That said, being a parent of twins is very rewarding, though difficult enough without dealing with the added stress of pregnancy complications and premature birth. These tips are no guarantee... even the most careful mother of twins may give birth prematurely. However, I did a lot of research into the matter because I was so scared of having the babies born early. I lost two pregnancies due to miscarriage, and I just wanted to do everything I possibly could to help carry my boys to full term.

It wasn't easy, but I made it all the way to my scheduled C-section at 37 and a half weeks, delivering Baby A at 5 lbs 10 oz and Baby B at 6 lbs 1 oz. The nurses told me I was the only twin mom at the hospital whose babies were in the well-baby nursery. I had prepared by reading many NICU horror stories, and couldn't have been happier to have two healthy babies that were able to stay in my room with me. I just wanted to share some tips that I lived by, which I truly believe helped me deliver two healthy, happy babies!

DRINK LOTS OF WATER
I actually bought a special 1 liter Camelback water bottle to help me drink enough water without having to get up to refill glasses all day long, which was especially helpful while I was at work. I would really recommend getting a big bottle and making sure you always have water in it. Even though you may have to use the restroom every time you get up as a consequence, staying hydrated means less chance of going into preterm labor, and better hydration for babies. Remember, you are drinking for three! My husband was very helpful in making sure I always had a bottle full of water next to me. I usually drank about 3 liters a day. Also, coffee is a diuretic which will make you pee even more than you already are, and can contribute to dehydration. A cup every once in a while as a rare treat is fine, but you may want to cut back if you are used to drinking several cups a day of coffee or other caffeinated beverages.

TAKE IT EASY
Many people who have only had a single pregnancy will not understand that with twins, you really need to be taking it easy. This even goes for the early days before you are showing! Try to limit your physical activity as much as possible. You can still do some light activity like pregnancy yoga as long as your doctor approves, but you really need to stay off your feet as much as possible. When your heart rate is too high it can put stress on your babies, and your heart is pumping double the blood anyway. I noticed that I would often have a resting heart rate of around 100 towards mid-pregnancy on, and combined with low blood pressure I was dizzy a lot. I had to really limit my errand running and shopping to no more than one store at a time... a good rule. And don't hesitate to ask a store employee to get you a chair if you start to feel lightheaded and you need to rest. One thing that's great about being pregnant-- people are usually very willing to accommodate your needs!

ASK FOR HELP
Need to reach something high? Don't climb up on that chair and try to get it yourself. Feeling lightheaded? Need to sit down? Find a chair, even if you have to interrupt someone who stops you in the hallway for a chat. If you need to ask your doctor to sign off on a handicap tag, do it. I mainly did this because I work at a large high school where the parking situation involves parking far from the door and often walking up a very steep hill, and this was the only way I could secure a close spot. It also came in handy later on when I was put on bedrest but still had to get to the doctor. Just remember, if you think there is any chance an activity is going to put you at risk, just play it safe.

CUT BACK ON WORK AND OTHER STRESSORS
When I first found out I was having twins, I told my work I planned on working until I was 38 weeks along. I knew I did not have much sick leave accumulated, and I didn't think I could afford to take any more time off than what I absolutely had to. I was focused on the finances and not wanting to face reality. As it turned out, I had to cut back to 6 hour days when I was 29 weeks along, and my employers were very understanding and accommodating. Then at 32 weeks I had to go into labor and delivery due to some pains, and when my doctor realized I was already 1cm dilated and 80% effaced she recommended full time at-home bedrest. I was off work much longer than I had planned, and it was a financial strain, but we survived and are making it work. No amount of money is worth seeing your babies born too early and suffer for it. Just keep your eye on the prize... 2 healthy babies! If your work load is too much, please talk to your boss or co-workers about picking up some of your share if they can. This will also help you be prepared for the day that all of a sudden you might be told you cannot go to work anymore. For that last week, I tried to leave each day with my affairs in order so that when the time came that I would not have to go in anymore I could focus on babies and not worry about last minute tasks left undone at work.

BE PREPARED!
You never know when the doctor might limit your activity, so make sure you get the room ready early so you aren't trying to put cribs together and hang curtains when you are 6 or 7 months along and having trouble bending over, etc. Also, plan showers for the beginning of your third trimester in case you have to go on bedrest and miss them! I had some family members who wanted to throw me one a month and a half before my due date, but I was already out of commission at that time so it was a bust. If you have all your ducks in a row early on that will help relieve the stress of having everything ready later on. Also, you may not be able to get out and about to go shopping later on, so make sure you have everything you need and your hospital bags packed!

EAT!
Yes, this is the fun part! This is one time in your life where you will want to up your calories! The higher the babies weight, the less likely they will be to need assistance regulating their body temperatures if they are born early. Healthy foods are good, but some ice cream and healthy fats are ok too! Of course, you may need to watch your blood pressure, so stay away from too much salt, but you have a free pass to eat a lot, as long as it's nutritious! A great book to check out is When You Are Expecting Twins, Multiples, or Quads by Dr. Barbara Luke. It contains recipes, charts on how many calories you need, and how much weight you should gain. Basically, you will need an additional 700-1000 calories per baby! I was surprised the first time I woke up hungry in the middle of the night. I recommend drinking a large glass of milk at bedtime to help get extra calcium and keep you full throughout the night without aggravating heartburn!

GET SUPPORT

I recommend joining your local Mothers of Multiples Club. Our group has an email list where mothers of multiples can email out questions to the group and get several helpful replies from other members. If you are worried about symptoms of your pregnancy, of course you want to talk to a doctor, but it's nice to be able to compare experiences with other twin moms who have gone through it all before you. Find your local chapter here.

Sometimes even when you do everything right, complications can arise which are doubled when you are carrying two babies! But if you follow these tips you will know you did everything in your power to give your twins a healthy start by carrying them to full term. So grab a glass of water, put your feet up, and get some rest because when those babies come you are going to need it!