{I was contacted recently by Katie Moore of Moore from Katie about doing a guest post here. Katie writes about motherhood, pregnancy and childbirth. The timing is perfect since I am consumed with Apollo’s care right now. I hope you enjoy this post. – Renee }
Preparing for Multiple Births
When a mother-to-be hears from her doctor for the first time that she is indeed pregnant; it can be a feeling of excitement or joy. When she then hears that she is not only have one child, but also two, or three or even more in some cases, that feeling of excitement may turn into anxiety or nervousness. Carrying multiple children at once full term is different from carry just one child full term. However, one thing that remains the same- there are many steps a mother can take to prepare herself and her babies as best she can for delivery day.
Tips for Planning Multiple Births
Many women immediately think about their diet when they first find out they are pregnant with multiple children. Questions like, “Will I have to eat 3x my usual amount?”, may come to mind, or what foods should I eat more of and what foods should I stay away from? These are all relevant and important concerns for woman to consult with their doctors about. Each pregnancy is differs woman to woman, but maintaining a diet that is nutritious, alcohol and tobacco free, and filling for both the mother and baby is important for every woman. Planning a diet regimen with a doctor, midwife or doula to follow for the duration of the pregnancy is a good idea for woman because they will be assured they are taking the necessary precautions in delivery healthy children.
Packing the Birth Bag for Multiples
Because the birth of multiples means extra time and care, the birth bag should be stocked with items that will support the mom during delivery and also soothe her and allow her to release stress. A new mom has normal trepidations about having one baby, but having more than one baby may increases stress or worry levels, but this is to be expected. Creating a checklist of items to include in the birth bag is a good way to make sure it is all there when the big day arrives. Packing the birthing bag with things such as slippers, comfortable clothing, toiletries, music, magazines and other activities can be a good way to keep a mothers mind on something other than the delivery itself.
Getting Ready for Delivery Day Itself
There will probably be more people monitoring and attending to the labor and delivery process since there will be more than one child born so expect there to be increased activity in the room. It is important to have someone by the expecting mothers side during delivery to help reassure her that she can handle the delivery and babies with no problems. Whether this person is a spouse, significant other, family member, doula or midwife, the person should be supportive and comply with the mother’s requests allowing her to be as comfortable and confident as possible.
While having a vaginal delivery may be the preferred method even with multiple births, very often multiple births result in C-sections to ensure the health and safety of the babies. No matter which way the baby is delivered woman should make sure their doctor knows if she has chosen to bank the child’s cord blood. Cord blood banking is the process in which the umbilical cord blood is saved and stored at a cord blood bank to be used in the future as a potential medical resource for the family.
Home Support
Family and friends will be eager to come and see the babies and mother, which can tire them all out. Plan one day to invite family and friends over to see the little miracles, and have plenty of help on-hand. Then limit visits until the mom and the babies get used to a routine of changing, feeding and bathing.
“This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact her via twitter @moorekm26.”