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Two At Once
Becoming a Parent of Twins
By Catrina M. Dickens
While in her 30th week of pregnancy with twins, Kathleen Kabak found herself in the hospital after a routine exam showed she was 4 centimeters dilated. For weeks, she was given medication to stop contractions and underwent a battery of tests: ultrasounds every third or fourth day, and fetal monitoring once each day. "This has got to be worth it," she reminded herself. And in the end, it was. After three weeks, Kathleen went home and was on bed rest until her scheduled Cesarean section. At 39 weeks, she delivered two boys, 7 pounds, 9 ounces each.
Stories like Kathleen's are not uncommon for twin pregnancies. Twin pregnancies are potentially more complicated and higher-risk than their singleton counterparts. Dr. Scott Moses of Chicago says, "Weight gain is 40 [pounds] instead of 28, you need more calcium, folic acid, more exercise." Dr. Jodie Escobedo of Santa Monica, Calif. says, "There's a higher rate of complications: morning sickness, placental bleeding, hypertension, diabetes, pre-term labor."
An important factor of twin pregnancies is the greater risk of premature delivery. Moses says that on average, twins are born at 36 c weeks instead of 40 to 41 weeks for singletons. In addition, there are "many more admissions to the prenatal ICU. Most ICU beds are filled with multiples." The long-term effects depend on the level of prematurity. "It depends on how premature," Moses says.
"If you find you're having twins, prepare to be on bed rest for the end of your pregnancy," Escobedo says.
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Re: Two At Once by danielle darling on 10/29/2008 07:57PM
Mname is Danielle and I'm a 22-year-old single mom of twin 2-year-old boys. They are my whole world and I'm Super Mom as my friends and family call me. They are truly a blessing. I have a nervous break down a couple times a month but how could I not? The key is to keep your head up, have faith that if God brought you to it, He will get you through it.