Moms of twins may live longer, study says.

My favorite part: We are “Physically exceptional people”!!

What do you think?

Moms of twins may live longer, study says is a post from: M.O.T. Bits

Will I be sicker with twins? Will I be on bedrest?
I had very little Morning Sickness. You may have heard that multiple baby pregnancy’s make you sicker. All though I have heard of some MOTs who where sicker with their twin pregnancies, I was not sick. So there is a little hope for some. During my first Trimester I was hungry ALL the TIME, but didn’t feel like eating anything. I felt extremely exhausted, but still was able to work full time up until the day my water broke at 35 1/2 weeks. Luckily I did have a job where I was able to work from home a few days a week, so I could take it easy on those days. When I first went to the doctor after I found out I was pregnant with twins, the nurse practitioner told me I would probably go on bed rest after 25 weeks. I’m glad that she was wrong! Everyone is different, but just because you have two babies in there, doesn’t mean you are doomed for a pregnancy with lots of sickness and early bed rest.

Will I have early labor?
I did not have any false labor contractions, but my stomach would get very tight at night on my busier days. I’m not sure if this was Braxton Hicks or not, because they didn’t come and go, but I would feel pretty tight until I got a good rest.

How to get sleep when pregnant with twins
Speaking of rest, it does get pretty uncomfortable to sleep a lot earlier then a singleton pregnancy might. For me, a body pillow was a must! There are a few out there to choose from. Mine was similar to this Cotton Body Pillow. There are some specific maternity pillows that get awesome reviews like the Beyond Down Gel Fiber Body Pillow or Boppy Prenatal Total Body Pillowor the Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow.

I was thirsty all the time, but I’m glad because it forced me to drink a lot more water than I am used to. When woman experience pre-term labor or false labor, the doctors usually send them home to drink lots of water. Dehydration can cause contractions.  I would like to think that drinking a lot of water may have helped my pregnancy.

Being somewhat of a high risk pregnancy just because of multiples, my doctor had me do Non-Stress Tests (NSTs) once a week starting at 30 weeks. These were fun to get to see the babies even more, and they were non-eventful. At my last appointment, which I believe was 32 weeks, I measured about full-term for a single baby, but wasn’t  dilated or effaced at all. No one expected me to have the babies less then 3 weeks later. (See my Labor and Delivery Story for more info.)

Books to read to help prepare for twins:
“Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Twins, Triplets and More”
This was a quick and easy read.  I liked this book because it let me know how my pregnancy was different then a singleton pregnancy. I was worried about my diet and wanted to make sure I was getting enough nutrition to grow and support two babies. This book had a great meal plan suggestion that I was able to get some ideas from and feel more confident that I was getting the nutrition we all needed.

“Ready or Not Here We Come!: The Real Experts’ Guide to the First Year With Twins”
Also an easy read. Elizabeth Lyons is light hearted and funny. She helps put the humor in the stressful situation of preparing for twins. I liked her list of things necessary for twins in the first year. She listed her opinion of things you need two of and things you can get by with just one. (See my similar list coming soon.)

In my breastfeeding post, I mentioned the book “The Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More”.  There is a lot of helpful information in this book, almost too much for me. It did help prepare me for breastfeeding and I do recommend it, but I definitely didn’t read the entire book. I read the parts that seemed applicable to my situation.

In a nut shell
My advice to expectant MOTS, drink lots of water, listen to your body, sit down and rest when you need to and get excited for an amazing adventure!

Please share your twin pregnancy stories with us! Comment on this post, or email me at candice(at)motbits(dot)com if you have a great story you’d like me to feature. 

My Twin Pregnancy is a post from: M.O.T. Bits

Surprised ~ Shocked

As I have talked to other MOTS, I have heard some different reactions to the news from the ultrasound tech, or a doctor saying something like “There is more then one baby.” For me, having been on Clomid for fertility issues, we knew there was a slim possibility of a multiple birth, so I had an early ultrasound. When the tech realized why I was there, her announcement was “Yep, there is just two in there.” “Just TWO?” I thought, that’s plenty! Honestly, my first reaction was excitement. I had kind of hoped it was twins, even though I hadn’t fully thought that through!

As I started to think things through, all the other emotions began to set in. I was a little scared and worried how my pregnancy would go. Would I be put on bed rest? Would I deliver early? Would the babies be healthy? (See My Pregnancy and Labor and Delivery Posts soon to come.)

Then overwhelmed, how was I going to take care of two babies? I don’t even know how to take care of one yet? (They were my first.)

My husband’s says his first reaction was that he was sick to his stomach.  He didn’t know how he was going to support a family of four.

One of the reasons I have started this blog was to help expectant MOTs know how GREAT and FUN twins can be. It’s not easy and all the above emotions are very appropriate. I didn’t cry when I found out, but don’t feel bad if you did. I mean, we have all the pregnancy emotions and then on top of that to be told that your life is not only changing times one, by times two.

I am here to help! I am here to support! I hope that motbits.com will become a community of mothers of twins to help each other. Please continue to read my upcoming posts for all the tips, books to read, and favorite products etc. to help you.

You can do it! You can make it though your pregnancy, you can have a great birth experience and you can raise two little ones at one time! It takes Faith! Faith in yourself. Faith in a Higher Power that entrusted you with two little ones and faith in whoever you have to help.

I’m excited to add a series of Podcasts to motbits.com. These Podcasts will be interviews with expectant mothers of twins, new mothers of twins and those who are a little more experienced mothers of twins. Listen to their stories of how they found out they were pregnant with twins.

We would love to hear your story! Please post a comment and share your experiences to help others! If you are interested in guest posting or participating in Podcast interviews, please email me candiceATmotbitsDOTcom.

*All of the above photos were downloaded by www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Just Found Out You Are Pregnant with Twins? is a post from: M.O.T. Bits

Breastfeeding Twins Tips is a post from: M.O.T. Bits

Thank you!

Hello world! is a post from: M.O.T. Bits