There are few things that can prepare you for the news that you are pregnant with twins. In an instant, your whole life (and pregnancy) changes. You walk into a routine ultrasound ready to find out if you will be painting the nursery pink or blue and leave wondering how you can even afford paint.

At least this was my experience 20 weeks into my second pregnancy. I was already a new mother to a 6-month-old baby boy, delivered via Cesarean section. My incision still ached when I was told I'd be having twins! Good thing I was lying down, because I am sure I would have passed out.

Like me, your initial reaction may be shock, but it's the flood of questions that leaves you with a dizzy feeling. Thoughts like: "Does this mean I have to deliver by Cesarean?" and "How can I possibly care for two babies at once?" are commonly experienced by twin moms-to-be.

Thanks to modern medicine, most of us will learn we are having twins long before the labor pains begin. And while you may not be prepared for the news that you are carrying twins, you can, and should, prepare for your unique birth experience. Using the precious time you have before your babies are born is the first step in planning for a healthy delivery.

Good nutrition is essential, says Elizabeth Noble, author of Having Twins (Mariner Books, 1991). "You need a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. Ocean fish is important for essential fatty acids."

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