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Multiple Issues

The Risks Associated with Twin Pregnancies

By Melinda Copp

If your doctor puts you on bed rest, that really means you stay in bed – or at least lying on the couch. Your movement and activities are very limited when you're on bed rest, which can become very challenging after a month or two of just lying around watching television.

"The bed rest with my daughters was long but it actually wasn't too bad for me," Johnson says. "I think the loss of our first twins was enough to make me willing to do anything to keep my babies safe. It was a stressful pregnancy, though, which made time seem to creep by."

Bed rest can be boring, but you should use that time to relax. After all, down time will be in a drought once those babies are born. Catch up on your reading, surf the Internet, even write a book – you'll have plenty of time!

"Some of the things I did to keep busy were talk on the phone, read and play hand-held games that people sent me," Johnson says. "I watched a whole lot of movies, TV shows and documentaries. My husband set up a computer with an Internet connection so I could get into bulletin boards, e-mail and keep in touch with people. I also did a ton of research on baby gear from my bedroom, and even registered."

Bed rest can also be emotionally taxing for expectant moms. Discomfort, boredom and restlessness can start to weigh on your spirit.

"Emotionally, it's tougher, I think," Johnson says. "Like I said, I had a relatively easy time, but there were still moments. We had gone through years of infertility and in-vitro fertilization to get pregnant, and I felt cheated out of my dream of going out shopping for baby stuff in my cute maternity outfits."

"Of course, there was the constant worry about whether the babies were OK," Johnson says. "There's not a lot to keep your mind occupied when you're spending months on the couch."

Want to see more?

• Discomfort Times Two: How Can You Get Relief When Carrying Twins?
• Check out our Article Library.
• One of Each: Expecting Boy/Girl Twins
• The Home Stretch: Surviving the Last Trimester with Twins
• Talk about it!