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Delivering Multiples
What to Expect When You're Carrying More than One
By Melinda Copp
Twins are double the fun – after they're born. They can be a little troublesome through pregnancy, labor and delivery. The body is made to handle one fetus at a time, and any more than that increases stress. This increased strain on mom means an increased risk of conditions that complicate birth, such as pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, anemia and bleeding. With multiples, moms-to-be also have a higher chance of requiring a cesarean delivery, which in itself comes with risks of infection, bleeding and abdominal scarring.
"The risks of pregnancy are much greater to a certain extent in twins than singletons," says Dr. Robert Atlas, the director of obstetrics and gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "There are greater chances for problems with the babies, such as chromosomal anomalies. There are greater risks of growth abnormalities with higher order multiples, called intrauterine fetal growth restriction. And the average gestation for twins is 35 weeks versus 38 in singletons, leading to possibly higher risk of long-term problems."
The most serious concern with multiple pregnancies is premature labor and delivery. Most twins are born at 35 to 37 weeks; triplets are around 32 to 33 weeks and high order multiples come even earlier. Therefore, doctors are very concerned about keeping the babies inside for as long as possible. For mom, this may mean taking it much easier during the pregnancy, and possibly even bed rest. Eaing enough to keep the babies growing and satisfied is also important.
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