10 Ways to Make Twin Pregnancy Easier
Pregnancy is not a walk in the park. A twin Pregnancy? That’s next level. From finding the right doctor, to easing morning sickness, to preparing for your little ones to come home, it can seem like an overwhelming 9 months. Luckily, there are ways to make it easier. These 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier include tips and tricks to make the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters as great as they can be.
If you find this helpful, also check out the top 10 essentials to thrive in your twin pregnancy. If you’re planning your baby registry, check out the twin baby gear must haves to make your life easier.
.
1st Trimester
1. Find a Doc and Schedule the Recommended Tests
First up, call your doctor and schedule an appointment. Research and figure out if you’d be more comfortable with a maternity doctor, obstetrician, or midwife; all three have their pros and cons. Also, do the research on what prenatal tests and screens you’d like done, as not every pregnant woman needs them all. Some are optional, some come with a high cost, and some covered only if you are high-risk or over a certain age. And don’t just take the recommendation from your doctor – do the research yourself. Decide which tests you’d like, and come prepared to ask for what you want.
.
2. Sleep More
It’s no surprise that next up on the list of 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier is sleep. Pregnancy, especially in the early months, can be exhausting. By month two, you may find yourself falling asleep on the couch by 9pm. It takes work to build one baby, let alone two. The first trimester is when the herculean task of growing the placenta takes place (or placentas, depending on your twin situation), the life force for your baby.
Where you can, try to schedule in extra sleep – whether that’s going to bed early, sleeping in later, or aiming for naps. All three likely won’t be possible (though how great would that be!), so do what you can. Maybe it’s hitting the sack early on weeknights, and naps on the weekends – whatever works for you. Remind those around you that your body is working overtime right now, and growing babies is hard work!
.
3. Eat More
Chances are, at some point in the first trimester you’ll experience some form of nausea. The glorious morning sickness will likely join the party, and it can be even more intense for women expecting multiples. One way that women have found to help stave off morning sickness is to eat immediately upon waking, before even going to the restroom.
For me, if I ever tried to take my prenatal multivitamin before eating, it was a surefire route to vomiting. Try keeping a dry snack like crackers near your bedside, then have a hearty, protein-packed healthy breakfast before heading out to conquer your day.
.
2nd Trimester
4. Eat Even More
As you head into the 2nd trimester, food continues to be a theme for the 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier. While you don’t need many additional calories during the 1st trimester, that changes comes the 2nd.
According to thebump.com, an average pregnant woman needs around an additional 300 calories in the 2nd trimester, and 450 extra calories in the 3rd trimester. For twins, double that, to an extra 600 calories in the 2nd trimester, and an additional 900 calories in the 3rd trimester.
Some experts, such as Dr. Barbara Luke in her book When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads, advocates eating as much as 3500 calories when pregnant with twins. She also recommends gaining 20-25 pounds by 20 weeks, claiming the weight you gain before 28 weeks has the greatest effect on your babies’ rate of growth.
It’s a personal decision on what each woman chooses to do, and you should do your research and talk with your practitioner. I personally aimed to gain , then stuck to the 600/900 goal after that. With 6lb and 8lb twins, it worked for me.
.
5. Take a Babymoon
The 2nd trimester is known as the happy trimester. Women generally report less morning sickness, yet you haven’t hit the uncomforts of the 3rd trimester yet. That makes it the perfect time for a little getaway! My hubby and I took our daughter to Hawaii just before she turned 2 (hello free flight!) during our 2nd trimester. It was a great way to relax and enjoy each other’s company before the twins arrived.
After they did, we knew life would be very different, and we were unlikely to take a trip like it for the next few years. Not prepared to take a flight? No problem. Even a road trip to get away for a long weekend, or hitting up a cottage for a few days can be an amazing getaway. Whatever you decide, pick something that will help you relax, and will allow you to look back on with fond memories.
.
6. Start Building Your Tribe
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout this parenthood journey, is that you can’t do it alone. Now is the time to start finding your people. Whether it’s following along with people on social (I’m @TwinWinning – let’s chat!), joining pregnancy groups online (www.babycenter.ca is my fave), or checking local resources (community centers often offer great prenatal workout classes), there are hundreds of people out there just like you, searching for their tribe. We are all in it together, mamas.
.
7. Start Taking It Easy
Next up on the 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier is to make time to relax. This can be a hard one for some. If you take a sense of pride in your strength (whether that be in working out, endurance, staying at the office until midnight, etc.), it can be hard to take a step back.
But something my mom told me that really stuck is that nobody can do the job of growing these babies but you. Anyone can work on an office project. Other people can clean the house. Someone else can step in during your workout class. But you are the only one who has the ability to keep these babies safe and healthy for these 9 months. Truly, it’s just a drop in the bucket in the span of your life, so put your pride on the shelf, and your feet on the couch.
.
3rd Trimester
8. Consider Going Off of Work Early
As we head into the 3rd trimester, the next step in the 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier can be a hard one for some women. My obstetrician recommended I go off of work around 30-32 weeks. No way, I thought. I can stay until at least 36 weeks. She smiled at me, in a knowing way. “You don’t know yet how uncomfortable and hard that time can be. Most women find by that point, they’re not able to keep the pace in the office full time.” I smiled and said I’d think about it.
Flash forward to the late 2nd trimester, and I knew this wise woman was right. Just getting through the days became challenging. The 15 minute walk to the office was labored. Just sitting in my office chair became uncomfortable. I ended up leaving at 32 weeks, and was so grateful she had recommended I let my office know it was a possibility early on. Again, each woman is different, but at least consider telling the office that your doctor recommends you leave by a certain week, so it doesn’t come as a surprise if it does end up happening.
.
9. Nest, Nest, Nest
Most women have heard of the urge to nest during pregnancy – that is, to get your house in order. For me, it manifested as a desire to throw out most things we owned. Luckily, my husband was able to be a voice of reason, but I was still able to accomplish a fair amount of decluttering. For other women, nesting manifests as the need to buy a truckload of newborn equipment. And for some, it results in heavily household cleaning, even washing the walls. Keep an eye out for it, and know that it’s Mother Nature’s way of getting ready for the little bundles of joy to join the home.
.
10. Prepare a Postnatal Plan
So, you’ve read all the pregnancy books, visited all the blogs, and have your nursery Pinterest-perfect. Your hospital bag is packed, and your labor plan is ready. But…have you thought about what week one of newborn life will be like? What about week three, or week eight? Do you have a plan for who is doing which nighttime feedings? Have you thought about your postpartum mental health plan? What about baby classes you’d like to attend, a feeding plan, or a plan for if things become entirely overwhelming? Hint – it’s likely to happen more than once.
Arguably the most important item on the list of 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier is to not forget about the vital postnatal period. Think about splitting night shifts with your partner, family member, or night nurse. Consider putting a mental health check in with your doc on your calendar for a month after the babies arrive, no matter how great you feel now. Think about your feeding plan and backup feeding plans, and have your local lactation consultant’s number saved.
Having a postpartum plan in place is, in my opinion, the most important item of the 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier. The first 3 months postpartum can be HARD. Anything you can now to help make that period easier will be appreciated by your future self.
.
There You Have It!
Hopefully these 10 ways to make twin pregnancy easier can help you make this experience the best one possible. While not always easy, it’s an incredible experience. Don’t forget to document it via photos, letters, and videos for your future kiddos. Do you have any additional tips? Comment below!
.
Read Next:
TIPS: Morning Sickness Remedies when You’re Pregnant with Twins
TIPS: Top 10 Essentials to Thrive in Your Twin Pregnancy
Follow along on social @TwinWinning
.
