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Home › Articles › Pregnancy › Multiple Pregnancy 101

Multiple Pregnancy 101

Everything You Need to Know from Morning Sickness to Bed Rest

By Kelly Burgess

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The most common complication is preterm labor. Dr. Odibo says a woman expecting multiples should have more frequent doctor visits and should immediately report to her doctor any contractions or pain or pressure in the vagina or pelvis.

During these more frequent medical evaluations, the mother will be checked for any signs of pre-eclampsia, and her cervix will be checked to be sure it's not opening too soon. Since gestational diabetes is more common with multiple pregnancies, her blood sugar level will also be carefully monitored.

The babies also will be watched closely via ultrasound. There are several different types of multiple pregnancy categories: fraternal siblings, identical siblings with a shared placenta and identical siblings without a shared placenta. It's important for the doctor to determine early on what kind of multiples he or she is dealing with, because fetuses with a shared placenta are at a higher risk of a condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.

Dr. Pector recommends that parents use these ultrasound sessions to get to know the babies and their personalities. Sometimes the siblings appear to hug each other in the womb and want to cuddle. Other times, they seem to be hitting or kicking their sibling(s). These are important clues that can help parents plan for later sleeping arrangements and space for their children.

"Research has shown that how multiples act in utero closely reflects their personality type and interaction after they're born," Dr. Pector says.

Bed Rest and Boredom
Because preterm labor is the most common complication of multiple pregnancies, it's not unusual for an expectant mother to be put on bed rest toward the end of her pregnancy. This is almost always the case with triplets.

Dr. Pector recommends that expectant mothers use the bed rest time to plan ahead. Although there's a lot they can't do, they can use the phone, and it's a good time to get organized for what's ahead – namely double or triple the work of a singleton parent.


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