Having a baby changes your whole life. But having two or more babies can send you into overwhelm like you’ve never experienced. Talking to your doctor is important to know what to expect when you’re expecting multiples. You’ll also want to find a group of friends who know what you’re going through because they’ve gone down that road before.
Here are 11 questions to ask your doctor if you’re expecting multiples:
What to know when expecting: Pregnancy issues
Labor with twins: When to go to hospital
Getting to the last stage of pregnancy can have a lot of stress. Consider what you need to know just before going into labor and what happens when you are in labor.
8. What is the position of the babies?
Talk to your doctor to make sure that both babies are in the optimal position for birth and that there are no expected complications with this. Ideally, both babies have their heads down and are facing your back.
9. What do I do if my water breaks?
You should have a plan to call your doctor if your water breaks. Depending on whether or not you are having contractions and how far apart they are, your doctor will inform you as to whether or not you should proceed to the hospital or wait a bit longer.
10. When do I go to the hospital?
It’s time to go to the hospital if your contractions are at least five minutes apart and last for a minute each. If this is consistent for at least one hour, it is time to head to the hospital. Realize that the initial signs of labor are often subtle meaning early labor has minor and inconsistent contractions that grow in intensity and consistency as you move into active labor.
11. Will delivery be early?
It is common for twins to be born early, often before the 38-week mark. With the majority of twins arriving early, it’s important to have a plan with your doctor and all parties involved in your birthing process.
You already know that having twins will be a lot of work. But remember to utilize the help of others when your babies are born. “There are no visitors, just helpers. I really stuck to that and it served me well,” Shideh Shafie, mom of twins and an emergency room doctor, told Mom.com. “Get all the help you can get when you can get it to make everything more manageable.
