Pregnant with twins is a dream for some married couples, especially for those who have been waiting for a baby for a long time. The number of twins is not only two or three, but can be more than that.
To have twins, a history of twins is generally needed, both from the mother and grandmother. Even though it is considered a gift because it can have more than one child in one pregnancy, unfortunately being pregnant with twins is also very risky.
Therefore, a lot of information is needed so that pregnant women can take care of their womb until the day of delivery arrives. Here are 12 things that parents who are pregnant with twins must know.
Also read: 40 Islamic twin baby names that mean good
Things to know when pregnant with twins
Many married couples want twins. The chance to get it is now even higher thanks to the help of technology.
Now, to have twins, you and your partner can be assisted medically or medically assisted reproduction (MAR), either by IVF (in vitro fertilization), artificial insemination, and ovarian stimulation.
However, being pregnant with twins is not like being pregnant with one child because of the high risk of complications. Even so, worries should not be treated with excessive panic, OK, ma’am. There are many ways you can do to keep your pregnancy steady and minimize the risk of complications.
Here are some things that couples who are pregnant with twins need to know.
1. Chances of getting pregnant with twins are higher if you are in your 30s
It is undeniable that the older you get, the more difficult it is to get pregnant. This is because the fertility rate of women will decrease with age. But it turns out that the older you are, the chances of getting pregnant with twins are very high.
This is confirmed by Abdulla Al-Khan, MD, director and chief of maternal and fetal medicine and surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. According to him, when women are in their 25s or 30s and 40s, their ovulation cycles are no longer regular.
Meanwhile, when your ovulation cycle is irregular and you ovulate, you can ovulate two follicles at the same time. You can conceive twins without the help of reproductive technology.
Also read: 50 Sanskrit twin baby names and their meanings
2. Need extra folic acid
If you are pregnant with only one child, you need a lot of folic acid intake, then when you are pregnant with twins, you need twice as much folic acid intake. For mothers who are pregnant with twins, 1 mg of folic acid is needed per day.
Folic acid will prevent the occurrence of defects in the neural tube such as spina bifida or the occurrence of gaps in the vertebrae.
3. Should be more frequent to the obstetrician
Mothers who are pregnant with twins need to see an obstetrician more often because monitoring must be carried out intensively. The doctor will check the health condition of the fetus through an ultrasound examination.
For information, the risk of miscarriage after amniocentesis in a single pregnancy is 1:1,000 while in twin pregnancies the risk of miscarriage is higher, namely 1:500.
4. Experience morning sickness more severe
Morning sickness is a common condition experienced by pregnant women and most pregnant women have experienced it. The cause is the HCG hormone. For pregnant women with twins have risks morning sickness which is worse because in multiple pregnancies, the HCG hormone increases higher than in single child pregnancies.
Many twin pregnant women complain of more severe nausea and vomiting in the first trimester. Mothers pregnant with twins also claim to feel more complaints, such as back pain, difficulty sleeping, and heartburn. In addition, twin pregnancies also have a high risk of anemia and bleeding after giving birth.
Also read: It is said that breast milk for twins will not be enough, what is the fact?
5. Spots come out more often
Pregnant women are prone to spotting, including mothers who are pregnant with twins. As previously mentioned, the risk of miscarriage in twin pregnancies is higher than in single pregnancies.
Therefore, twin pregnant women may be more at risk of experiencing spots in the early trimester. Even so, spots that are not accompanied by stomach cramps are nothing to worry about.
6. Feeling fetal movement early
Usually the fetal kick will be felt in the 18th to 20th week. However, in twin pregnancies, the mother may be able to feel the fetal movement earlier, especially if the mother has been pregnant before.
7. The weight gain is more significant
By being pregnant with twins, it means that the mother’s body weight will increase more considering that there are two or more fetuses, two or more placentas, and more amniotic fluid. Mothers also need more calories to meet their nutritional needs during pregnancy.
If in a single pregnancy, weight gain is usually around 12kg, then in a twin pregnancy it can reach 17kg. However, regarding the exact kilograms, you can consult directly with your respective obstetrician.
Don’t let you be overweight or obese.
8. More at risk of developing gestational diabetes
Mothers pregnant with twins also have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes compared to mothers pregnant with only one child. If this condition is experienced by the mother, the mother will give birth to a bigger baby. Even after giving birth, the mother is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Also read: Cheers, Mother! These are 4 things to look out for when breastfeeding twins
9. More at risk of developing preeclampsia
Apart from diabetes, another health problem that is at risk for pregnant women with twins is preeclampsia. This condition is characterized by high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and sometimes the mother will experience swelling in her hands or feet.
10. Fetal growth may be stunted
Twin babies tend to experience more frequent imbalances in nutritional intake between one baby and another. This is because the baby only gets nutrition from the same placenta.
As a result, pregnant women can experience twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) which causes one fetus to grow more slowly than the other. This condition also often causes twin pregnant women to miscarry.
Also read: 5 Tips for Success in Increasing Breast Milk Production for Breastfeeding Twins
11. Give birth faster
Mothers pregnant with twins may give birth earlier, for example at 36 weeks. Twin babies do have a higher risk of premature birth and also have higher respiratory problems compared to single babies.
12. Delivered by cesarean section
Cesarean delivery is also the next thing that pregnant women who are pregnant with twins need to know. Multiple pregnancies often make the fetus position towards breech. This is the reason many pregnant twins have to give birth by cesarean section.
Those are 12 things parents need to know when pregnant with twins. To minimize the various risks of complications due to having twins, it is best to carry out routine pregnancy control.
