Pregnancy
- Join your local multiples club. It is a great source of support,
and now is truly the best time to join.
- Carry a water bottle with you at all times and drink plenty
of water throughout the day. Dehydration can lead to contractions and preterm
labor.
- Eat several small meals throughout the day. You will need to eat
a variety of healthy foods throughout your pregnancy, and you should
discuss your changing nutritional needs with your doctor. It will
probably be easier to eat smaller meals throughout the day. Make sure
you have plenty of snacks with you.
- Eat protein. Protein is very important during any pregnancy and
even more so during a multiple pregnancy. Incorporate protein into
meals and snacks. Alternatives to meat include beans, eggs, and nuts.
Eating protein with foods high in Vitamin C, like oranges or orange
juice, will help to increase the protein absorption. Dairy can interfere
with protein absorption.
- Talk to your doctor about delivering at a hospital that has
a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit IN HOUSE. Unexpected complications are more likely
to arise with multiples, particularly identical twins.
- Take a tour of the maternity unit at the hospital where you
are planning to deliver. Ask questions about the hospital’s policy on the earliest
they can deliver, should you experience preterm labor. Some hospitals
are not equipped to deliver babies born before 28 weeks gestation.
Be sure to visit the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and get familiar
with the equipment. Ask for educational materials on preterm infants.
We hope your babies won’t need to stay in the NICU, but it is best
to prepare yourself, just in case.
- If you are planning to breastfeed your babies, take a class. You
might also want to consider making arrangements to rent a hospital
grade breast pump when the time comes, especially if your babies arrive
early. The pump will help you to establish your milk supply.
- Be prepared to take it very easy during your third trimester,
and make sure your hospital bag is packed. Most multiples arrive early,
so we encourage you to get things done ahead of time so that you can
rest during the third trimester. Complete the major work with getting
the nursery decorated by 28 to 30 weeks. A multiple pregnancy is hard
on your body, and many of us have stories of preterm labor and bedrest.
- Find a pediatrician for your multiples. You can make an appointment
to interview the pediatrician and get a feel for the office. Be prepared
with a list of questions and make sure that the pediatrician is a good
match for you and your family.
- Install the infant car seats and get them checked by the
local police department. Ninety percent of child safety seats are not used correctly.
Do not take any chances. Take time to read the manual and be familiar
with the height and weight limits on the car seats.
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