Double the love, double the blessings
Janine Gard is a diploma-qualified birth educator (2005) and founder of Bellies to Babies antenatal and postnatal classes. She has helpedmore than 3700 parents prepare themselves mentally, emotionally and physically for their journey to parenthood and loves what she does. This week she talks about multiple births.
Every year inNewZealand around 1000 couples find themselves expecting twins, triplets or occasionally evenmorebabies. Multiple births aremore commonthan they were years ago, due to the advancing average age of mothers and the associated rise in assisted reproductive techniques, in particular theuse of fertility drugs.
Twins account formorethan 90per cent of multiple births. There are two types of twins— identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic). Contrary to popular belief, the incidence of twins doesn’t skip generations. Factors that increase the odds of having twins
Somepeople aremorelikely than others to give birth to twins. The factors that increase the odds include people in their 30s and 40s having higher levels of ahormone called oestrogen than younger people, which meanstheir ovaries are stimulated to producemore than one egg at a time (more eggs, potentiallymorebabies); the greater the numberof pregnancies you’ve had already, thehigher the odds of conceiving twins; you are morelikely to conceive fraternal twins if you are a fraternal twin; and assisted reproductive techniques— manyprocedures rely on stimulating the ovarieswith fertility drugs to produce eggs and, often, several eggs are released per ovulation.
Having twins (or more) is considered ahigher risk. Youcan still have amidwife if youchoose, but it will usuallymeanyouwill have other specialists involved such as an obstetrician and a paediatrician— one for each baby.
Twins aremore likely to be born early, often before 38 weeks, so it’s important to understand your birth options. Because of the likelihood that your babies will be born early, there is a good chance one or both of themwill spendsometime in special care (SCBU).
As twins are often born prematurely, it’s a good idea to discuss birth options with your LMCearly in your pregnancy. You should also discuss where you would like to give birth. Youwill most likely be advised to give birth in a hospital because there’s a higher chance of complications with a twin birth.
While the process of labour is the sameaswhensingle babies are born, twin babies aremore closely monitored.
Vaginal birth
About one-third of all twins are born vaginally and the process is similar to that of giving birth to a single baby. If you’re planning a vaginal delivery, it’s usuallyrecommended that you have an epidural for pain relief. This is because, if there are problems, it’s easier and quicker to assist thedeliverywhen youalready have good pain relief — but this is always your choice.
Caesarean section
Youmaychoose tohave an elective caesarean from the outset of your pregnancy, or yourLMC mayrecommenda caesarean section later in the pregnancy as a result of complications. You’re nearly twice as likely to have a caesarean if you’re giving birth to twins than if you’re giving birth to a single baby.
The babies’ positionmayalso determine whether they need to be delivered by caesarean section. If the presenting baby is in a breech position, or if one twin is lying ina transverse position, you will need to have a caesarean section.
Even if you plan a vaginal birth, you mayend uphaving an emergency caesarean section. This could be because one or both babies becomedistressed during labour, the umbilical cord is infront of your baby, your blood pressure is goingup or your labour is progressing too slowly. In very rare cases, youmaydeliver one twin vaginally and then require a caesarean section if the second twin becomes distressed.
After thebirth of your babies
After the birth, yourLMCwill examine the placenta to determine what type of twins you have. If your babies need special care, you mayneed to go to another hospital such as in Wellington that has appropriate facilities if complications happen during your pregnancy or if one or both of your twins require specialist care. These hospitals aremore likely to be able to keep you and your babies in the sameplace.
If you want to breastfeed and only one twin can feed effectively, youmayneed to express milk to feed the twinwhois unable or having trouble feeding.
Remember— you will have double the love, double the hugs, double the chubby cheeks and squishy baby kisses, double the grins and double the blessings!
Bellies to Babies Antenatal & Postnatal Classes, baby massage courses and baby and infant first aid courses, 2087 Pakowhai Rd, Hawke’s Bay, 022 637 0624. https:/ /www.hbantenatal-classes.co.nz/ Medical disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes only and may not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended to replacemedical advice offered by physicians.