Preparing For Multiple Pregnancy.

A mother of twins at my doctor's office said she waited too long to buy the things she needed for her babies. What did she mean?
Many expectant mothers wait until they are close to the delivery date of their baby to buy nursery items. However, the expectant mother of multiples shouldn't wait this long your 2nd trimester is not too early to buy the things you'll need. Buy these things while you can get around easily instead of waiting until after your babies are born.

A friend who had twins told me her doctor advised her to begin her maternity leave from work early. Is this normal?
Often a physician will advise a woman expecting multiples to stop working 8 to 12 weeks before her due date. Ideally, a woman should stop working at 28 weeks with a twin pregnancy, 24 weeks if her job requires standing or physical exertion.

What kind of support would you recommend when my babies are born?
Your time of greatest need will be after you bring your babies home. Ask for help from family, neighbors and friends for the first 4 to 6 weeks. You may be fairly exhausted yourself, so it's helpful to have extra pairs of hands available until you all settle into a routine.

My husband and I want to take childbirth-education classes. Can we when we're expecting twins?
It's an excellent idea to take these classes for any pregnancy! Schedule your classes to begin at least 3 months before your due date. If you have time, a brief course in Cesarean birth might also be worthwhile, if you can find one in your area.

MULTIPLE PREGNANCY DELIVERY
I've heard that multiple fetuses are usually delivered early. What is the average length of pregnancy with more than one baby?
We try to delay delivery of twins until about the 37th week of pregnancy, and triplets until about the 35th week. In most cases, these pregnancies deliver earlier.

The average for twins is about 36 weeks; for triplets, the average is about 33 weeks.

How are multiple fetuses usually delivered?
This depends on how the babies are lying in the uterus. All possible combinations of fetal positions can occur. Some doctors believe two or more babies should always be delivered by Cesarean section. When twins are both head first, a vaginal delivery may be attempted. However, one baby may be delivered vaginally, with the second requiring a C-section if it turns, if the cord comes out first or if the second baby is distressed after the first baby is born.

BREASTFEEDING MORE THAN ONE BABY
I'm expecting twins, and I want to breastfeed. Can I?
Yes, you can. It may be more demanding, but many women successfully breastfeed twins.

I've heard breast milk and breastfeeding are good for twins. Why?
We know that breast milk is especially valuable for small or premature infants; often twins are both. For this reason, if you want to breastfeed, try it.

We're going to have triplets. Is it possible to breastfeed triplets?
You'll find it very challenging, but try it if you want to. One way you may be able to do it is to let each baby breastfeed for a bit at a feeding, then supplement with formula. You can also express your milk, and divide it between the three of them. Because triplets are usually small and premature, your breast milk is valuable to them.

I have a friend who had triplets born 10 weeks early. Her breast milk never came in. Is this common?
No, this is not common. Usually a mother produces breast milk without complications.