Pregnant With Triplets
Tips on Staying Healthy when Pregnant with Triplets
Being pregnant with triplets, or any kind of multiples, is a little trickier than being pregnant with a single child. For one thing, it requires a higher calorie intake in order to ensure that all three babies are getting the nutrients that they need in order to develop properly. So what else do you need to know when it comes to staying healthy when pregnant with triples?
A triplet pregnancy is considered a high risk pregnancy and should be taken seriously. It might require more trips to your OBGYN in order make sure that both you and your babies continue to stay healthy. You might also want to consider getting a doctor that is well versed in dealing with pregnancies that contain multiple babies, as the needs of both the mother and the babies are different than most pregnancies.
Although eating right is important in any pregnancy, it becomes even more important when pregnant with triplets. Your doctor should discuss your dietary needs with you on each visit, as well as go over your weight gain and your activity level. It is important that you stay hydrated and that you are getting enough protein in your system.
It is very easy for women to become dehydrated during pregnancy and even easier for women who are pregnant with multiples to become dehydrated. Dehydration is a serious matter. It can lead to premature uterine contractions and labor, and in extreme cases, even death. Most doctors suggest that women carrying triplets try to consume around 2 quarts of liquid per day in order to stay hydrated.
Women that are pregnant with triplets might get more severe morning sickness than those women that are carrying single babies. Because of this, gaining weight in the first trimester might be difficult, but it is still important. If you find that you are unable to hold down any food or liquids then you should speak to your doctor about different approaches that you can take when concerning morning sickness. You might need to be prescribed anti-nausea medication.
Although technically you are eating for 4 during your pregnancy, you really only have to consume 300 extra calories per day per baby. Still, this is an extra 900 calories that you wouldn't normally be eating. Now is not the time to do on a diet or try to lose weight. In fact, that can be very dangerous. Rest assured that most of the weight that you gain during pregnancy will come off once you have given birth, as long as you follow a healthy diet.
It is also important that you take your prenatal vitamins on a regular basis. If you are pregnant with multiples then you are more likely to get anemia from having an iron deficiency. You might even need to take iron supplements, as well as calcium supplements in order to help your bones during the pregnancy.
Although the majority of women suffer from fatigue when they are pregnant, women carrying multiples might feel even more tired. You could be placed on bed rest or face restricted activity from your doctor. Even if this doesn't happen, you should still get plenty of rest while you are pregnant and this might mean taking short naps during the day.
Towards the middle of your pregnancy, don't be surprised if your doctor wants you to perform fetal kick counts. This is to ensure that all three of your babies are still moving around and are accounted for. You should do this several times a day and if you notice any changes, report them to your doctor immediately.
Even though pregnancies with triplets can sometimes be more difficult, as long as you follow the advice of your doctor and attend your regular appointments you shouldn't experience any problems. The pregnancy might be trying at times, but women go on to have triplets everyday that are normal and healthy.