When Is a Colposcopy Necessary?
A colposcopy provides essential information about your reproductive health and lowers your risk for cervical cancer and other diseases. Learn more about the benefits of a colposcopy and why you might need one.
Carrying Multiples? Follow These Essential Tips
Are you pregnant with twins, triplets, or higher order multiples? Congratulations! Welcoming new babies into the world is exciting. But when you’re carrying multiples, we know it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
Multiples make up about 3% of pregnancies, and expecting more than one baby comes with different risks. As a high-risk obstetrician specializing in multiples, A. Michael Coppa, MD, is here to ensure you and your babies stay as healthy as possible.
If you just found out you’re going to have more than one baby, here are a few of our essential tips to survive pregnancy.
Find a high-risk obstetrician
Carrying multiples makes your pregnancy a high risk regardless of your health pre-pregnancy. Your risk of complications like premature delivery and low birth weight is higher, so you may need more prenatal visits and additional testing.
Dr. Coppa is a high-risk obstetrician who is experienced with multiples. He monitors your health and your babies’ development throughout pregnancy. He ensures you’re getting the right nutrients and gaining the recommended amount of weight for your situation.
Your obstetrician is also an important resource for you, and our team is available to answer any questions you have about your pregnancy symptoms and carrying multiples.
Prioritize rest
Being pregnant is hard work, and carrying multiples takes more energy than carrying a single baby. Fatigue is a common symptom that generally worsens as your pregnancy progresses. Rest is the best way to recharge and avoid exhaustion.
If possible, take a few minutes each day to lie down. Pregnancy can also make it difficult to get restful sleep at night, so resting throughout the day can help you combat fatigue.
Plan for early delivery
You learn your due date when we confirm your pregnancy, but due dates are only an estimation. Roughly 96% of babies aren’t born on their due dates, and being pregnant with multiples means your risk of premature delivery is much higher.
On average, twins are delivered at 35 weeks, and triplets are delivered at 33 weeks. Quadruplets often arrive even earlier, at about 30 weeks on average.
That means you should prepare for the arrival of your babies as early as possible. Have all of the essentials by about 30 weeks, including diapers, car seats, and cribs. If you’re able, consider taking early maternity leave to make preparation easier.
Enlist help from family and friends
All new parents can benefit from extra hands in the early months. Family and friends are often excited to offer their support when babies arrive, and you should take them up on it.
Ask loved ones to help you prepare your house for your babies before they’re born. After delivery, they may be able to help by grocery shopping, preparing meals, or watching the babies while you rest.
If your budget allows, research other options for help. A postpartum doula, night nurse, or nanny can make the newborn stage easier, especially when you have more than one baby on your hands.
Are you expecting multiples? It’s exciting, but it’s normal to have questions, too. Get the support you need from our experienced high-risk obstetrician. Contact us to schedule your first prenatal appointment with Dr. Coppa. Our offices are in Cranston, Smithfield, and Providence, Rhode Island.
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