Twin Pregnancies
Our team at Midwest Center for Women’s Healthcare has many twin pregnancy specialists to ensure the proper care of you and your babies throughout your pregnancy and delivery. If you are carrying twins or other multiples, we are here to support you during this exciting time.
Twin pregnancies are more common now than in the past. In fact, according to the CDC, the number of twin pregnancies has doubled over the past 40 years. Certain conditions can increase your chances of having twins:
- Use of fertility treatment
- Your age
- Family history of twins
- Previous pregnancies
Managing a Twin Pregnancy
Most twin pregnancies are discovered during an ultrasound. If you are carrying twins, you can expect frequent checkups to monitor the healthy development of your babies and to assess your risk for potential complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preterm birth.
- Frequent checkups. We will want to see you frequently to track your babies’ growth and development, to monitor your health, and to watch for signs of preterm labor. Frequent checkups also give you an opportunity to ask the many questions you may have and for your healthcare team to remind you how important it is for you to get rest.
- Weight gain. We encourage our patients to eat healthy throughout pregnancy to support the growth and development of their twin babies. Gaining the right amount of weight is important. For twins, the recommendation is typically 37 to 54 pounds for women who have a healthy weight before pregnancy. This can typically be accomplished by eating an extra 600 calories a day. Together with your doctor you can determine a healthy eating plan while carrying twins.
- Earlier delivery. If labor doesn’t start on its own first, your doctor may might labor induction or a C-section at a certain point in your third trimester to decrease the risk of complications in the third trimester.
