When You Have a Multiple Pregnancy
How is a multiple pregnancy managed?
Your healthcare provider or midwife will talk with you about your care with you based
on your pregnancy, overall health, and health history. Care will also be based on
the number of fetuses you are carrying.
Care of a multiple pregnancy may involve:
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Increased nutrition. If you are carrying 2 or more babies, you will need more calories, protein, and other
nutrients, including iron. You should also gain more weight. The Institute of Medicine
advises that women carrying twins who have a normal body mass index should gain between
37 and 54 pounds. Those who are overweight should gain 31 to 50 pounds, and obese
women should gain 25 to 42 pounds.
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More frequent prenatal visits. Multiple pregnancy raises the risk for complications. More frequent visits may help
find problems early enough to better treat and manage them. Your nutritional status
and weight should also be watched more closely.
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Referrals. You may need a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist).
They may do special testing or ultrasound evaluations and coordinate the care of complications.
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Maternal and fetal testing. You may need testing to watch the babies' health, especially if there are pregnancy
complications.
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Tocolytic medicines. You may be given these medicines if preterm labor happens. They help slow or stop
contractions of the uterus. You may take the medicines by mouth (orally), as a shot,
or through an IV (intravenous) line into a vein. Magnesium sulfate is one such medicine
often used.
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Corticosteroid medicines. Corticosteroid medicines may be given to help mature the lungs of the fetuses. Lung
immaturity is a major problem of premature babies.
How are multiple pregnancies delivered?
Delivery of multiples depends on many factors, such as:
Generally, in twins, if both babies are in the head-down (vertex) position and there
are no other complications, a vaginal delivery is possible. If the first baby is vertex
but the second isn't, the first baby may be delivered vaginally. The second is either
turned to the vertex position or delivered with buttocks presented first (breech).
These procedures can increase the risk for problems, such as prolapsed cord. This
is when the cord slips down through the cervical opening. Emergency cesarean (C-section)
birth of the second baby may be needed. Most triplets and other higher-order multiples
are born by C-section.
Vaginal delivery may take place in an operating room because of the greater risks
for complications during birth and the potential need for a C-section. A C-section
is often needed for:
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Babies that are in abnormal positions
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Certain health conditions of the mother
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One or both babies not getting enough oxygen (fetal distress)