Staying Healthy When You’re Pregnant with Multiples

If you are expecting more than one child, you will have many of the same concerns as any other pregnant woman.

Nutrition

You will want to ensure that your diet is sufficient to maintain your own health and to provide nourishment for the developing fetuses. You may be uncertain about whether you need nutritional supplements and you may wonder about how much weight is appropriate for you to gain when you are expecting more than one baby.

There is little research on nutrition for women who are pregnant with multiples, and well-founded guidelines do not exist yet. These recommendations are, therefore, adapted from information on single and twin pregnancies and clinical experience. They are general and are not meant to replace the one-on-one care that you get from your caregiver. If you have specific concerns, ask for an appointment with a registered dietitian.

• Healthy eating
• Specific food choices and nutrients
• Weight gain

Choices and Challenges

When pregnant, many women find themselves second-guessing everything they do. Should I exercise like before? Can we have sex? Should I just stay in bed? Often the answers to these questions are not as clear-cut with multiples because the research studies have not yet been done to address these questions. If you are pregnant with multiples, here are some common concerns you may have.

• Discomforts of pregnancy
• Physical activities and activity restrictions

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