Your Guide To A Healthy Twin Pregnancy

Yes, a healthy twin pregnancy is possible!

Where you planning on a natural pregnancy? Then discovered - or are suspecting - that you are pregnant with twins?

Now you wonder if you still can have a natural pregnancy and a natural birth.

As the mother of twins - twice! - I am here to reassure you that a healthy twin pregnancy and an all natural vaginal birth are possible!

36 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins

The twin pregnancy information presented here will assist you in the decision making process:

First signs of twin pregnancy

Identical and fraternal twins

Healthy twin pregnancy and the high risk label

Healthy twin pregnancy and nutrition

Loss of a twin

Mother of Twin Babies

My name is Florence and I have carried twins twice! Yes, that's right...twice.

I had a set of fraternal twin girls in 2000 and a set of fraternal twin boys in 2007.

And yes, fraternal twins do run in my family.

Both my pregnancies were natural and the births were vaginal and natural. I actually chose to give birth to my babies at home. Both sets were term - over 37 weeks - and my smallest twin was 7 lbs and my largest...7 lbs 15 oz.

I am here to ask you to - please - not give up on your dreams of having a natural pregnancy and a natural birth. With proper planning and education, you can have the birth you want!

First Signs of Twin Pregnancy

What are the first signs of a twin pregnancy?

You should suspect twins if:

Note: +/- 2 centimeters is considered within normal limits and is - usually - no cause for concern.

Identical and Fraternal Twins

Not all twin pregnancies are the same. You could be having identical or fraternal twins.

If you are having identical twins your babies will look alike and you will either have a set of boys or a set of girls.

If however you are expecting fraternal twins, your babies will be genetically different and there will be more sex "combinations:"

Boys

Girls

One of each: a boy and a girl

The High Risk Label

Yes, it is true that if you are indeed expecting twins you will be labeled "high-risk" by the medical community. However, you may be surprised to discover that most midwives and some very prominent OBGYNs do not agree with such a label.

There are no doubts that with two babies there are some added risks. Yet twins are not an abnormal situation - but rather a variation of normal.

I am not saying that you should do as I did and have a homebirth. However, what I am saying is that you should be evaluated apart from other women who have given birth to twins. You are a unique individual and should be treated as such.

Newborn Twins

A word of caution, if your doctor says "c-section" just because you are carrying twins run the other way. Each woman should be evaluated on her own merit.

C-sections for twins have NEVER been proven to have a better outcome or to be safer for you and your babies.

A c-section is major abdominal surgery which comes with added risks for you as well as your babies. C-sections are life saving when used appropriately.

May I give an analogy?

Flying is statistically much safer than driving. Yet, I can safely assume you still choose to drive knowing the added risks. So are you casual with your life?

No...you are not! You know and understand the risks. You accept them and try to minimize them.

My husband and I chose a homebirth because I was healthy, the babies were healthy, and we believed that even with the added risks a homebirth was still the safest place for us to be.

Had my pregnancies become truly medically unsafe or had my babies' lives been in jeopardy, we would have made different choices.

I worked very hard at staying healthy and at making sure my babies were healthy as well. I did that through nutrition, smart supplementation and exercise.

Healthy Twin Pregnancy and Nutrition

A multiple pregnancy has many added nutritional needs compared to a singleton - one baby - pregnancy. A nutritious diet accompanied by wise supplementation is essential to a healthy twin pregnancy. Nutrition is the foundation of any healthy pregnancy and especially of a multiple pregnancy with its added demands and requirements.

Through my twin pregnancies, I gained more than an adequate amount of weight and my babies were indeed healthy and well nourished. Their weights were adequate and I had the reserves required for a long and healthy breastfeeding relationship - close to three years!

If you are interested and curious about what I ate, I have included a sample of my diet for your convenience.

The Loss of a Twin

I am sad to say that one of my girls had a neurological problem and she passed away at one month one day.

If you have suffered from the loss of a baby either through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death, my heart goes out to you. I understand.

Sadly, eating well and doing things "right" never guarantees that everything will go as you want. HOWEVER, everything is more likely to go as you want because you choose to do everything right.

For example, I do not choose to wear my seatbelt so that I am never involved in an accident - even though that is my prayer. I wear my seatbelt because if - God forbids - I am ever involved in an accident I will be safer.

Sadly, there are no guarantees with pregnancy and birth, or anything else for that matter. Yet, we must do what is right for ouselves and for others.

I have experienced two pregnancies after infant loss and indeed there are some special circumstances for those of you who may be in that situation. I welcome any questions you may have and you may contact me anytime.

Healthy Twin Pregnancy

So in conclusion...yes, you can have a healthy twin pregnancy.

I would even say that a healthy twin pregnancy is certainly more likely with a natural pregnancy. Marjorie Tew - a statistician who after many years of research - agrees with this statement:

Alisha and I welcome you...

...To the wonderful world of twins!

And we bless you with a healthy and natural twin pregnancy and a natural birth. To see videos about twins birthed naturally click here. And here is a homebirth of twins and a breech homebirth of twins.

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