Twin Pregnancy Tips: How To Survive Twin Pregnancy

Twin pregnancy tips to help with surviving twin pregnancy.

The first step to surviving multiples is surviving twin pregnancy.

For some moms, getting pregnant with twins is no big deal. You might have some morning sickness that first trimester, but it moves along like normal. For other moms, it is the hardest thing they have ever done.

And for all twin moms, that third trimester can feel like it lasts forever.

So how do you make it through this? Raising twins is tough but first, you need to get through having twins. These twin pregnancy tips will help you survive.

Twin Pregnancy Tips

Getting through your twin pregnancy can be hard, but there are several things you can do to make it easier.

1. Drink More Water

Isn’t this the answer to everything? Drink more water.

Yes, this is an obvious tip, but it can be harder than it sounds. If you are having morning sickness even water can be gross. And once you have two babies jumping on your bladder it can be annoying to have another reason to go to the bathroom a lot.

But drink the water anyways. It will help eliminate a lot of pregnancy symptoms like swelling too. Plus it is a helpful habit to get into if you plan on breastfeeding your twins.

2. Keep Moving

I know, you’re pregnant with twins. That means you’re tired. You don’t want to move.

But do it anyways. Take a walk. Exercise as you are able (and as your doctor recommends). Move as best you can.

Yes, I know this is annoying advice, but think about it. Your body is undergoing huge changes that are going to make it harder to do your daily activities. Stopping all movement is just going to make that worse!

Add to that keeping active can help with body image. Pregnancy is beautiful and women of all shapes and sizes are beautiful, but it can be tough to accept all the changes that take place during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor, but do your best to keep as active as is healthy. You’ll be glad you did.

3. Rest When You Need To

The flip side of getting enough exercise and movement is to rest enough.

Growing one baby is no joke, and you are growing two. Yes, I exercised while I was expecting twins but I also took plenty of naps.

We know as women we feel the need to do it all, all the time. For me that means sleep gets pushed back. But it is important that you take the time to take care of yourself as best you are able.

You are doing something good for your babies when you rest.

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More Twin Resources To Help Out

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4. Just Say No

Don’t be afraid to say no to people.

Too tired to handle one more commitment? Say no. Too overwhelmed with taking care of your other children while pregnant with twins to take on another project? Say no.

When your twins are born you are going to have to take some time to focus on recovery and taking care of your two new babies, so life will have to slow down a little. It’s okay to start tapering down on commitments while you are pregnant with twins. In fact, it’s a smart thing to do.

5. Advocate for Yourself

Make your doctor see you, not just a host for two babies, not just a generic pregnant woman. YOU.

What are your needs? How is your body handling the pregnancy? Yes, the health of your babies is of the utmost importance, but they can’t be healthy if you aren’t.

My OB was great about this, but the maternal fetal medicine specialist I saw, while great at the technical side of the job, was not so great at this.

Don’t let your doctors treat you as just another generic pregnant lady. Ask questions. Demand that you be seen as an individual. Ask why before just agreeing with anything.

6. Listen To Your Gut

Trust your instincts. You are the mother of these babies, you have a say in what happens.

This means if you think there is a problem and you should be checked out, go get checked out! Don’t be embarrassed or worried about looking silly.

If you think one twin or both twins aren’t moving as much, or if you think there might be a problem speak up. The worst that happens is you get checked out and find that everything is just fine.

7. Accept Help

I hate taking help from people. There, I said it. I don’t want to bother anyone and I feel like I should be able to do everything by myself.

But when you are pregnant with twins, you just can’t. Like literally can’t.

I had to hand over a few household tasks to my husband because I physically couldn’t do them anymore. Changing my singleton’s crib sheets is one example. Another is transferring the laundry from the washer to the dryer. I just could not bend enough to make that happen.

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it is just smart. And honestly, people will want to help. So if someone offers say yes.

8. Remember It Is Temporary

Pregnancy can feel like it lasts forever, especially those last weeks. And when you are pregnant with twins you get to feel like you are 9 months pregnant for about the last 3 months it seems.

But it doesn’t last forever. Your twins will be here before you know it. So no matter how tired or sore you are, try to remember it is temporary. A good mindset will do wonders for how you feel, and it will help get you ready for all the twin questions coming once your twins are born.

9. Consider Visiting a Chiropractor

I didn’t see one during my pregnancy, but I have several mom friends who swear by this. A good chiropractor can help take some of the stress off your spine and help with sciatica.

Carrying two babies puts a big strain on your body, but a good chiropractor can help with that.

10. Get Lucky

No, I don’t mean the kind of lucky that got you pregnant with twins. I mean get lucky in terms of genetics, fate, or whatever decides who has easy pregnancies and who doesn’t.

I had a really easy pregnancy for carrying twins. A part of that is just luck of the draw. I know women who are super strong and healthy but have to go on bed rest to prevent preterm labor. There are women who do everything ‘right’ and still have premies. And there are women who don’t even know they are pregnant and everything turns out just fine. (And get tv shows made about them.)

There are so many factors involved with twin birth and different risks for fraternal twins and identical twins. There really isn’t anything you can do to prevent twin to twin transfusion syndrome, for example.

Is it fair? Not at all. But we need to recognize that some women have easier pregnancies than others.

You can’t beat yourself up if you have a hard twin pregnancy. You can do everything the way you are supposed to and still have complications. Because sometimes life just isn’t fair.

Surviving Twin Pregnancy

Being pregnant with twins can be daunting. There are fears about twin to twin syndrome, preterm labor, heck double the weight gain. But these tips will help you make it through. Before you know it your family will be home and thriving.

Here are more resources to help you out with twin life.