Life with Twins #2—Pregnancy
No two pregnancies are alike. This is especially true for pregnancy with twins.
During my pregnancy with Faith and Hope, I experienced a number of pregnancy complications. I had vaginal bleeding and pregnancy-associated diabetes. In my third trimester, I was forced to go on bed rest due to a shortening cervix (a risk factor for preterm labor) and poor fetal growth (Hope was not growing well). I was later hospitalized for preterm labor, and Faith and Hope arrived early at 33 weeks.
Contrast that with a friend’s experience as a mother of twins. She worked close to the end of her pregnancy and delivered her twins full-term. My friend and her babies went home after a few days in the hospital.
Today, we are both thankful parents of healthy twins.
There are two reasons why I like to share about my pregnancy:
- It’s important for parents to know that twin pregnancies can be associated with a greater risk of complications. While many twin pregnancies progress without any difficulties, it’s vital that expectant mothers of multiples appropriately seek the involvement of a perinatologist (a specialist in high-risk pregnancies) and read as much as they can on twins. Knowledge is power—both on the part of doctors and parents.
- I want parents to know that even the most complicated pregnancies can have a positive outcome. Medical technology has advanced so much in the past few decades (see article at TwinsDoctor.com for more information about this). Doctors have more experience in caring for twins now than at any other time in history. I hope my story will give parents a reason for hope should they experience a difficult pregnancy.
