Finding out you’re pregnant with twins, triplets, or more can spark a mix of excitement and anxiety. Multiple pregnancies come with unique challenges and considerations that single pregnancies don’t have.
At Solace Women’s Care in Conroe, Texas, Farly Sejour, MD, Natalie Gould, WHNP-BC, and our experienced team provide specialized care for women who are expecting multiples.
We’ve helped many mothers deliver healthy multiples. Here’s what you should know about how carrying multiples changes your prenatal care.
When you’re carrying multiples, your body works harder, and complications can develop more quickly. We’ll want to see you more often to monitor both your health and your babies’ development.
A typical single pregnancy might require monthly visits until 28 weeks, but with multiples, you might need checkups every 2-3 weeks early on. As your pregnancy progresses, these prenatal visits may increase to weekly or even more frequently.
More frequent monitoring helps us catch potential issues like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and anemia before they become serious. These conditions are more common in multiple pregnancies, and early intervention makes a big difference in outcomes.
Yes, "high-risk" sounds scary, but it simply means your pregnancy requires additional monitoring and care. Multiple pregnancies automatically fall into this category because they have higher chances of complications like preterm labor and growth restriction.
This classification ensures you receive the specialized attention needed to manage these risks effectively. Our team has extensive experience with high-risk pregnancies and works closely with you to address any concerns that arise.
Ultrasounds become even more important when you’re carrying multiples. We perform them more frequently to:
In twin pregnancies, we typically perform ultrasounds every 4-6 weeks, increasing in frequency as your due date approaches. For triplets or more, ultrasounds may be even more frequent.
Growing multiple babies requires more nutrients and calories. We work with you to develop a nutrition plan that supports healthy development for all of your babies while helping you gain an appropriate amount of weight.
Generally, women who are carrying twins need about 300 additional calories per day beyond what’s recommended for a single pregnancy. You also need more protein, iron, calcium, and folic acid.
Weight gain recommendations typically range from 35-45 pounds for a twin pregnancy, compared to 25-35 pounds for singles.
While exercise is beneficial during pregnancy, carrying multiples puts additional strain on your body. As your pregnancy progresses, we may recommend modifying your activities earlier than would be necessary with a single pregnancy.
Every multiple pregnancy is different. What remains constant is our commitment to supporting you through this exciting but challenging time. If you’ve just learned you’re expecting multiples, call our office at 936-441-7100 or send us a message online to schedule a consultation.
