Are You Expecting Twins?

Twin birth is increasing today at a faster pace. This can be attributed to several factors.

One of the major factors responsible for the increase in twin births is the increased use of fertility drugs like clomid. Also assisted fertility procedure like IVF, leads to a higher incidence of twins and super twins (i.e. triplets, quads, etc).

If you have received news that you are carrying twins, don't despair, on the contrary, congratulations are in order. It takes a super mom, to deliver super twins. However, you are not in the same category as many other women who are expecting singletons. Your case is very different, and even if your doctor tells you that it doesn't matter, then it is time for you to look for a doctor specializing in birth of multiples. Here are some great tips to help you carry your babies successfully:

1. Find a specialist doctor:

This is one of the most important steps to take. This is not the time for you to play nice and stick with your family doctor, unless you value him more than the life of your unborn children. If your doctor is not experienced in multiple pregnancies, then find a specialist fast. One important thing to note is that you don't have a lot of time. Success in multiple pregnancies starts in the very early weeks of pregnancy. So don't delay, find a doctor who specializes in multiple pregnancies.

2. Locate a hospital with adequate facilities:

This is another important thing to do, even before you find a specialist doctor. Find a good hospital like a teaching hospital, and then you can locate a specialist doctor in the hospital. This is critical because unlike single pregnancies, your babies may need special care after delivery. Of course this is not automatic, you may not require the special care, but see this as your insurance policy, just in case. Not heeding this advice could lead to future regret.

3. Get a good dietician:

Your nutrition will play the most vital role in the healthy development of you babies. Locate a dietician who is well experienced in multiple pregnancies. It may be almost impossible for you to take care of your nutrition alone. Moreover, many advice you will receive even from doctors not experienced in multiple pregnancy, would be wrong. This is why you need a dietician who is well experienced in multiple pregnancies.

4. Eat up!

This is not the time for dieting. A multiple pregnancy requires more calories than a single pregnancy. You need to gain weight, and fast!

In other posts, we will go into more details in each of these areas, especially on diets and general well being during your pregnancy. Wishing you all the best...

By Iffy O Emmanuel