A twin pregnancy has a higher likelihood of complications than a single pregnancy. With proper medical care and attention to your body, it is possible to have no more problems than someone carrying only one child. When pregnant with twins, you can expect more-frequent checkups and tests than with a single pregnancy, but the goal of the medical staff is the same as yours, healthy babies.
Watch Your Diet
It is important to eat enough quality calories to provide nourishment for both babies. Plan to eat an additional 300 calories each day, but make sure that these calories are nutrient dense. According to the Mayo Clinic, whole grains, calcium and protein are all important for the healthy development of your fetus as well as your health. A healthy weight gain is 35 to 45 pounds for a twin pregnancy, up from the 25 to 35 recommended for single pregnancies.
Go With Experience
Whether you choose an obstetrician or a midwife, it is important to choose a health care provider that understands the special needs of a twin pregnancy and has experience caring for mothers expecting multiples.
Rest
Eight hours of sleep each night is vital for the health of your babies, but you may find that it is not enough. Take frequent breaks during the day, particularly if your job is strenuous. Some women benefit from closing the door and sitting still for 10 or 15 minutes several times each day while others need to lie down and rest for 30 minutes twice a day. If you are not getting the rest you need, talk with your doctor. He may be able to negotiate with your place of employment for a more flexible schedule.
Monitor Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a risk of any pregnancy, but is more common when pregnant with multiples. High blood pressure can develop by itself, called gestational hypertension, or along with a condition where protein passes out of the body in the urine, called preeclampsia. Symptoms of high blood pressure include severe headaches, blurry vision or seeing flashes of light and sudden weight gain along with fluid retention. Untreated, high blood pressure can lead to permanent damage to many of the mother's organs, including the kidneys and brain. It also increases the risk of delivering a low birth weight baby and of premature delivery, which are already at a higher risk when pregnant with multiples. To reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure when pregnant with twins eat a low sodium diet, get some gentle exercise, such as walking, every day, and ask your doctor to show you how to monitor your blood pressure.
Know the Signs Of Preterm Labor
The Mayo Clinic reports that the main enemy of multiple pregnancies is preterm labor. A full term multiple pregnancy is 37 weeks, and the closer to that mark, the better the health outlook for the children. If you get to the hospital at the earliest stages of preterm labor, the doctor may be able to stop or delay delivery. According to the March of Dimes, signs of preterm labor include contractions, cramps that feel like menstrual cramps, feeling of pressure on the pelvis, backache or wet or bloody discharge from the vagina.
