Tips For Surviving The Last Few Weeks Of A Twin Pregnancy

If I could I would be jumping up and down and clapping about having made it to the last stretch of carrying two growing babies at once. But for those of you that are at this point of your pregnancy know that jumping up and down, let alone lifting one leg in front of the other has become the new obstacle during this wonderful time.

I am 37 ½ weeks pregnant with mono di twin girls. My OB’s office is my second home and I am quickly learning that you haven’t lived through a twin pregnancy until you have reached these last few weeks.

If you have been pregnant before with a singleton you may have remembered the ‘nauseating first trimester,’ “it’s a beautiful life, glowing,’ second trimester and the ‘OK, I’m ready to have these babies… NOW,’ uncomfortable third trimester.

When pregnant with twins, the third trimester seems to revert back to the first trimester while tacking on a few additional challenges that comes along with bearing twins.Nausea comes back full-throttle, hunger has never been so strong and the ability to move has decreased immensely. Your stomach is sizing up to be an unrecognizable being projecting off of your body and aches and pains are sprouting from, well, everywhere.

So, welcome to the third trimester with twins!  Hello, ligament burning and stretching in the worst way, carpel tunnel, acid reflux, hot flashes nausea and continual braxton hix.Goodbye lower back functionality, the ability to bend down and rely on your knees to get up, moving in general, lifting things and pretty much a full nights sleep due to having to use the bathroom on the hour, every hour.

But this is all OK, because for twins to make it this far is awesome news.They are thriving and learning the functions that will help them live outside of the womb healthy and happily.They are practicing the motions of using their lungs and they have reached a size that if they were born they could better understand how to nurse for the first time.For that, bring on the extra pain and bed rest. I’ll take it!

So I thought I would compile a little list of ideas to make this, yes, exciting time, a little more comfortable and tolerable!

Stock up on bedside snacks.Keep a bedside snack with you at all times for those 3a or 4a, nauseating, stomach rumbling, wake up calls.It seems as though the sweet little pair wants to prep you for those early morning feedings.  If the snacks are ready and available you are giving yourself one less reason to struggle up and out of bed in the night.Although, this one is hard for me because I’m not into the crackers or granola bars.At that time of morning the babies apparently want scrambled eggs or cereal. All well.  I do as they dictate.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.I know, at this point its a huge turn off.  But you still need it. I was always an avid water drinker.But there is something about being pregnant, pregnant with twins especially and needing water in excess.It’s just so much.But chug it down.I have to make a constant effort of this every day.I have substituted with flavored seltzer to help the situation.

Have reading material at the ready for restless nights.  Have that reading material next to you and ready for those hourly wake up calls.Getting up every hour means trying to fall asleep again every hour.  Some times more successful than others.When in need grab that book on sleep training twins, read a chapter and by realizing you are never going to sleep again you will happily close your eyes and drift off.

Eat something immediately upon waking. I know you don’t want anything. But eat something and help deter the nausea.

Get fresh air when you can and take on mini projects throughout the day.As tired as you are or as much as you may not want to move, get up and move around a bit and get fresh air.Take a little stroll outside or take on a mini project like sorting the infant clothes.  This helped my aches, pains and nausea.  Doesn’t mean you have to be up and about all day.Just a little here and there.

Have little ones around? Weather depending, setup camp outside with your existing kiddos.I take my 2-year old to the beach.It’s not your typical beach setup. Its simple, a chair, a magazine, refreshments and her beach toys.It does not require lifting or walking much and she gets to be out and about playing.Hopefully tiring them her out.You know, for their, fingers crossed, upcoming (and your upcoming) nap.