Female 1: Oh, baby! Make that oh babies! When you are expecting more than one new arrival, you can also expect some differences in your pregnancy.
Female 2: If you are expecting two or more babies, you are not alone, 3% of pregnant women in the United States carry twins. Perhaps your first consideration when pregnant with multiples will be how much you should eat. The good news? It is more than your singularly pregnant sisters. Most doctors recommend eating 300 extra calories per fetus per day. That means that moms to be of twins get 600 extra, and mom is expecting triplets get 900. But before you reach for the candy bars, remember that those extra calories should come from foods that will nourish your babies.
Try to get additional servings of lean protein and dairy. You will also need plenty of iron and magnesium when you are carrying multiples. Get iron from red meat and spinach, and try whole grains and green leafy vegetables for your magnesium. You need that iron to prevent anemia which is a low red blood cell count, a common problem in multiple pregnancies. Magnesium will help build your babies strong bones and regulate your blood sugar.
Round out that healthy diet by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day. This will prevent dehydration which can lead to dangerous pre-term labor.
A final hint on booking up for your babies, you will probably want to gain between 35 and 45 pounds, nearly twice as much as single teen moms.
When you are pregnant with more than one baby, you need to take a careful approach to exercise. It is vital to get the green light from your OB-GYN before working out. Then, it is okay to engage in gentle exercise, preferably the kind where you are off your feet and your body temperature does not raise significantly. Try prenatal yoga, or swimming.
A final consideration when you are pregnant with multiples is where and how your babies will be born. Some mothers will have a planned C-Section, while others will aim for a vaginal birth. When birthing multiples, most doctors require an epidural in case an emergencies C-Section becomes necessary.
While preparing for more than one baby, it may seem like twice as much work, keep in mind that the results will be twice as wonderful when they do arrive.
Female 1: Want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for information.
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