A multiple pregnancy often brings surprise, excitement and doubts about what comes next. What are the differences with a single pregnancy? Do you have to take different care than a pregnancy with a single baby? With this post I intend to solve the doubts of future parents so that they have a quiet pregnancy and that they enjoy the sweet wait.
What are the risks of a multiple pregnancy?
A multiple pregnancy is one in which more than one baby is expected to represent the 8-9% of pregnancies. Bring more than one baby is a risk pregnancy factor as we saw in the article "What is a risk pregnancy?". The more babies, the more likely complications.
The main complications that may occur in a multiple pregnancy are:
- Premature births
- Risk of abortion.
- Preeclampsia
- Gestational diabetes.
- Eclampsia.
The biggest complication that usually exists is that of premature delivery. 60% of twins and 90% of triplets are born prematureTwins are usually born around week 36, triplets around 32 and quadruplets around 30. They are babies who are born with low weight and finish developing in the womb. Fortunately, the technology has advanced a lot and no longer represents a vital danger in most cases, completing its development in the incubator.
Controlling blood pressure will be important to rule out preeclampsia (high blood pressure), which can increase the risk in pregnancy.
There will be take extreme precautions to avoid risks, with more medical visits to have a greater prenatal control, especially to control weight and tension. That is why it is necessary to go to the doctor when you know that you are pregnant to confirm the number of babies that are coming. In week 6 of pregnancy it is already possible to detect how many fetuses are in the uterus. Medical follow-up will depend on the mother's health and the evolution of the pregnancy. For pregnancies with more than one baby, visits to the doctor during the first trimester are every 15 days, and in the third trimester once a week. As the date of delivery approaches, the controls will be greater.
Care During Multiple Pregnancy
Regarding the eating, we must banish the saying that you have to eat for two. In the article "Changes in diet during pregnancy" We told you that in a normal pregnancy, people gain about 9-14 kilos, twins 15-20 kilos and triplets about 22-27 kilos. Everything will depend on the weight of the woman before pregnancy, the higher the weight before the fewer kilos are taken during pregnancy. It is recommended that women with multiple pregnancies ingest about 300 more calories a day than for a baby's pregnancy. That is, you would have to consume about 2700-2800 calories.
In a multiple pregnancy it is advisable more rest than in a single pregnancy, especially towards the last trimester. This will allow the babies to grow better and the pregnancy to last as long as possible. The heavier the babies and the more developed they are, the fewer complications there will be. Weight not only depends on the mother's diet but also on other factors that will be controlled by the doctor.
It is important drink a lot of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. The risk of preterm birth increases if the mother is dehydrated.
The symptoms are usually the same as in a pregnancy with a baby, although may increase the presence of vomiting and nausea. The body is affected by an overload and the effort is noticeable.
Near to 85% of multiple pregnancies end in cesarean section. The main thing is follow medical indications To reduce the possible risks, improve the diet so that they can develop properly and follow the necessary care, everything can come to fruition.
Because remember ... a multiple pregnancy is a special pregnancy for many reasons, and that it is a risky pregnancy does not imply that there will be problems, yes or yes. Only more controls will have to be done.