Preparing for a multiple birth
Having one baby can be hard work but it can be even more daunting when you’re pregnant with twins – or more. Much of the advice regarding healthy eating when you’re expecting one baby also applies to multiple pregnancies. During your third trimester your healthcare professional may advise you to multiply the number of extra calories needed by the number of babies you are expecting, although there are no official dietary guidelines. You'll certainly need plenty of rest, particularly in the latter stages of your pregnany as your body is doing extra work, so listen to the signs your body is giving you and make sure you take the time to relax.
Giving birth
Many twin pregnancies do last for 40 weeks or more, but if you're expecting more than one baby you're more likely to go into labour early. Your midwife may encourage you to give birth in hospital where you'll have access to specialist support for you and your babies. If you’re pregnant with twins, it may be possible to have a natural birth, depending on your circumstances. In the UK around 50% of twins are born naturally, but if you're having more than two babies, it's likely you'll have a planned caesarean.
Feeding twins or triplets
You may wonder how you will have enough breastmilk to feed your babies but your body will cleverly produce as much milk as is demanded, which means it is possible to breastfeed or express enough milk for twins or triplets. If you have twins, you can feed them at same time or one after the other. In some cases, one baby may be smaller than another, so may need more frequent feeds than their larger brother or sister.
Settling into a sleeping routine
With all the extra feeds and nappy changes, it’s important to get your babies into a sleeping routine, so that you and your partner can get the rest you need too. If your babies have been in a neonatal unit, they may already be in a routine, so try and stick to this when you take them home. When they’re still quite small, they can sleep in the same cot, as it may be comforting for them to be close to one another, but bear in mind that they will eventually need their own cots. If one baby has a habit of waking the other(s), it’s probably advisable to have separate cots – these can still be placed next to each other. If one baby does wake up crying, wait to see if they settle down again on their own, as the other baby can often sleep through their sibling’s cries. And, if at all possible, try and have a nap yourself at the same time as your babies to keep your energy levels up.
While one newborn can be a handful, two or more can be a little overwhelming, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. If you’d like more advice and support, take a look at the TAMBA (Twins & Multiple Births Association) website, or give our expert advisors a call anytime on 0800 996 1000, they talk to hundreds of mums and mums-to-be every day. You can also chat to us using Live Chat, our instant online messaging service, available Monday to Friday, 8am−8pm.