Expecting Twins: Now What?
Help! Appearance of the twins! Wonderful! How scary! And what awaits me?
With a touch of irony, it can be said that for my husband and I, the nine months were all it took to realize that we will have gone from zero to two in one leap! An intoxicating dive into a whole new family dimension, which on the one hand gave us great happiness, on the other a little scared us. For every woman pregnancy represents a journey of joy, disbelief, sometimes tiredness, sometimes fear. In the case of a twin pregnancy, the effect is amplified. The news must be assimilated and the pregnancy experienced as a special adventure.
It will be special to perceive the movement of four little feet inside oneself, or to hear the alternating hiccups of the children in different parts of the belly. It will be special to see the perfection of two miniature people during ultrasounds, to see them move and blend into each other inside the belly.
Unique sensations that sweep away fears, anxieties and uneasiness, which unfortunately are also normally amplified in twin pregnancies.
The hormonal impact and the physical changes tend to be more pronounced. Weight gain is stronger from the very beginning, since each twin initially grows at the same rate as in a single gestation and development usually slows down only after the thirtieth week.
The so-called common discomforts, such as nausea, reflux and exhaustion, make themselves felt quickly, tend to have greater intensity and longer duration.
Albumia, anemia, gestosis, hypertension, circulatory problems in the lower limbs, back pain and pathologies such as preeclampsia are more frequent in these pregnancies, precisely because the mother’s resources are consumed by two new creatures.
Then there are risks specific to twin pregnancies alone, the prevention of which, once again, involves greater medical surveillance (such as the risk of premature birth, the risk of irregular growth of one of the twins, the risk of feto-fetal transfusion in monochorionic pregnancies).
Gynecological visits and ultrasounds are therefore normally more frequent in twin pregnancies and last longer (it is good to know when booking ;-)). Sometimes it is necessary to be followed in special centers, especially in monochorionic monoamniotic pregnancies. In extreme cases, a forced rest period may be imposed or a period of hospitalization may be required.
The so-called common discomforts, such as nausea, reflux and exhaustion, make themselves felt quickly, tend to have greater intensity and longer duration.
Albumia, anemia, gestosis, hypertension, circulatory problems in the lower limbs, back pain and pathologies such as preeclampsia are more frequent in these pregnancies, precisely because the mother’s resources are consumed by two new creatures.
Then there are risks specific to twin pregnancies alone, the prevention of which, once again, involves greater medical surveillance (such as the risk of premature birth, the risk of irregular growth of one of the twins, the risk of feto-fetal transfusion in monochorionic pregnancies).
Gynecological visits and ultrasounds are therefore normally more frequent in twin pregnancies and last longer (it is good to know when booking ;-)). Sometimes it is necessary to be followed in special centers, especially in monochorionic monoamniotic pregnancies. In extreme cases, a forced rest period may be imposed or a period of hospitalization may be required.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.