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• Pregnancy is a difficult and uncomfortable phase on its own. However, the challenges increase manifold when a woman is carrying multiple children at the same time. 

With more parents choosing to give birth in their 30’s as well as more people making use of assisted reproductive technologies, multiple pregnancies now are much more common than ever before. This also means the risks and complications associated with childbirth increase, requiring more care for the expectant mother. 

Old wives tales will tell you that if a woman is carrying multiple babies can be predicted by looking at the shape of her belly, her diet or other such things. However, you can only be certain about it during your first ultrasound which is usually scheduled around the end of your first trimester. 

Here are a few things you must know about a multiple pregnancy

Risks for mother

Every pregnancy comes with its share of risks. Due to multiple children, the womb of the mother would exert more pressure on the stomach, bladder and other organs. Obviously, the weight that the body has to support is also much more than in the case of a single pregnancy. This also causes a whole lot of issues including getting tired much faster, shortness of breath, varicose veins and swelling in the limbs. 

A multiple pregnancy also has the following ones associated with it: 

• Severe morning sickness

• Sore or tender breasts

• Gestational hypertension 

• Preeclampsia

• Gastric problems including heartburn, indigestion and constipation

• Gestational diabetes

• Anaemia

• Postpartum depression

• Heavy bleeding after the birth

Risks for babies

The limited resources and space that is available for the kids to grow inside of the womb can interfere with the growth of the children. Things become more complicated when the children are sharing a placenta or the amniotic sac. Stillbirth or miscarriage are common outcomes of a multiple birth. Sometimes, one of the twins just “vanishes” and is discovered much later in the form of an ectopic pregnancy.

The other possible threats to the health of the children born out of a multiple birth include: 

• Intrauterine growth restriction leads to children not growing at a proper rate which is the reason for low birth weight for twins or triplets

• Preterm birth that may require the babies to remain in the neonatal intensive care unit after the delivery 

• Twin-twin transfusion syndrome among twins sharing a placenta, wherein one gets more blood flow than needed while the other gets less than needed

Likelihood of C-section 

A Cesarean or C-section birth is more likely in cases of multiple pregnancies as vaginal birth might be ruled out due to several factors by your healthcare provider. This is especially true for multiple births involving more than two children. Unfavorable conditions that may occur, making C-section a more viable option like when one or more babies are not in the right birthing position. 

Need for more nutrition

As already stated, all the babies will be competing for the available resources in a multiple pregnancy. This necessitates the expectant mother to be extra careful about ensuring that her body is sufficiently nourished and hydrated. Pay special attention to include proteins, iron, calcium and folic acid in your diet. Consult your doctor about the need for prenatal vitamins and the healthy amount of weight gain expected. 

Increased prenatal care

With all the increased complications that are possible in a multiple pregnancy, the need for medical monitoring required to track several health parameters of the mother and the babies increases. Take help from experienced doctors for organising the required prenatal ultrasound appointments.

Be active

In a multiple pregnancy, all the normal discomforts associated with giving birth can be felt in a more pronounced or intense manner. While the mother must ensure she is still rested while carrying multiple children, there is no need to restrict one’s physical activity until the doctor specifically says so. In fact, regular exercise and physical activity are thought to be rather helpful, specifically light exercises like walking and swimming. 

Conclusion

Learning about all the complications and risks associated with multiple pregnancy might seem overwhelming and scary. However, these are just possibilities that happen to a small number of women in actuality. Though it makes sense for you to know the risks, don’t let them bog you down or stop you from enjoying your pregnancy. Medical experts and technology are well equipped to help with the interventions that can prevent any untoward incident from happening in most cases.

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As a well-established and reputed cord blood bank in Singapore, Cryoviva offers a high-quality and world-class service to ensure you discover the benefits of umbilical cord stem cell storage and treatment. Contact us now or WhatsApp us on +65-8339 8482.