Pregnant with Triplets

If you are pregnant with triplets, you may be both overjoyed and overwhelmed anticipating your new arrivals. Triplet pregnancies are still on the rise in the U.S. According to the March of Dimes, the number of triplet pregnancies increased nearly four-fold in the 1990s. Since triplet pregnancies require special care, you should learn the best ways to care for yourself and your babies.

Triplet babies are three times the joy

Multiple pregnancies, especially triplets, were once a rare occurrence. Yet, today the March of Dime reports that multiple births account for more than three percent of the American population. Studies indicate that a large percentage of triplet pregnancies occur due to some type of medical intervention such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or fertility drugs. The fact that medical intervention is responsible for many triplet pregnancies concerns some experts because of the high risk nature of multiple pregnancy.

IVF sometimes result in a triplet pregnancy. IVF is a fertility procedure in which a doctor performs a fertilization process on a number of eggs outside of the womb and then implants the fertilized eggs in a woman's uterus. The doctor implants multiple fertilized eggs to ensure the best chance for a successful pregnancy. This procedure can lead to a multiple pregnancy.

Experts also believe that fertility drugs increase a chance of a multiple pregnancy. Some drugs that stimulate ovulation, such as Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (hMG), have increased the chance of multiple pregnancy. In 2008, about 20 percent of women taking hMG pregnancies had a multiple pregnancy.

A pregnancy normally lasts 40 weeks. However, a baby is considered full-term after reaching 37 weeks gestation. According to the American Pregnancy Association, 90 percent of triplet births are premature, with triplets commonly delivered at 32 weeks. Doctors prefer to allow pregnancies to go as close to 37 or 40 weeks as possible for critical development. Multiple births carry a risk for more complications than a single birth, which can result in premature birth. However, doctors also may induce labor for triplets sometime between 32 and 37 weeks to prevent complications. Your doctor will advise you on what is best for you and your babies.

While a triplet pregnancy is high risk, it does not mean that you will experience any complications. Some women expecting triplets enjoy healthy pregnancies with little or no complication. Possible complications in triplet pregnancies can include:

• Preeclampsia
• Placenta abruption
• Gestational diabetes
• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Cesarean section

Natural child birth is possible. However, the majority of triplet births require a cesarean section for the safety for the safety of the mother and babies.

When you are pregnant with triplets, it is important to take extra care of your health. Staying healthy and stress-free will allow you to enjoy the pregnancy and lead to the happiest outcome.

Multiple pregnancies often increase the severity of morning sickness due to the hormone fluctuations and high levels of human growth hormone. Morning sickness symptoms involve nausea with or without vomiting. The term morning sickness is misleading because it can occur at any time. If you experience morning sickness, it will typically last throughout the first trimester.

You can ease morning sickness symptoms with the following:

• Eat bland soda crackers.
• Do not drink fluids with meals. Drink fluids about 30 minutes before and after meals.
• Drink bland fluids such as water or lemonade, in small amounts throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
• Eat frequent small meals instead of large ones.
• Take extra naps. But do not lie down right after eating.
• Avoid smells that nauseate you.
• Stay cool. Feeling hot can increase nausea.
• Do not eat spicy food.

If your morning sickness becomes severe, consult your doctor immediately. He will screen you for hyperemesis gravidarum, a treatable condition which is harmful if left untreated. The doctor can prescribe something to ease your symptoms and prevent dehydration.

At some point in your pregnancy, you may be restricted to bed rest. If this occurs, find ways to remain relaxed and fight boredom. It may be easy to feel stressed or frustrated when you are confined to the bed or couch. Yet, it is important to relax physically and mentally for both you and your babies. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your bed rest:

• Follow the doctor's orders. Your doctor will give you specific instructions ranging from the best resting positions to any allowable exercise.
• Read good books.
• Talk on the phone with friends.
• Invite loved ones for visits.
• Organize photo albums and put together a scrapbook.
• Fold baby clothes.
• Write letters.
• Catch up on the movies you never had time to watch.
• Listen to favorite music.

There are many activities that you can participate in during bed rest. If you plan it right, it can be a mini vacation.

It is exciting to be pregnant with triplets. Be sure to record your pregnancy in a diary, scrapbook or photo album. Years later, you and your three children can look at photos and enjoy reading about at your special journey.

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