Twins are the dream of many young expectant parents, especially when they're a boy and a girl. This way, the babies have company in the womb and bring double the joy to the family after birth. For mothers expecting twins, it's crucial to pay extra attention to their own health and that of their babies, consulting with doctors frequently.
Happy Monkey Year: Precautions for Twin Pregnancy Delivery (Public Health Network)
1. Preventing Miscarriage and Premature Birth
The uterine cavity in twin pregnancies is relatively narrow, affecting placental blood circulation. The miscarriage rate is 2-3 times higher than in singleton pregnancies, making enhanced protection and monitoring essential.If one fetus dies, the other can continue to grow and develop. As the healthy fetus grows, the deceased fetus will be absorbed or compressed into a paper-like fetus and delivered alongside the healthy baby. Expectant mothers need not worry or fear, and should definitely not seek induced labor to terminate the pregnancy.The physical burden of twin pregnancies is heavier than that of singleton pregnancies. Simultaneously, compression of the heart, lungs, and inferior vena cava by the uterus can easily lead to symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, lower limb edema, and varicose veins, especially in the late stages of pregnancy. Therefore, expectant mothers carrying twins should take special care to avoid fatigue during the late stages of pregnancy, rest in bed more often to alleviate compression symptoms, increase uterine blood flow, and prevent premature birth.
Additionally, the excessive enlargement of the uterus in twin pregnancies often makes it difficult for many mothers to carry the pregnancy to full term, leading to premature delivery. To ensure a safe and smooth delivery, it is advisable for twin pregnancies to be admitted to the hospital in advance for delivery, if conditions permit.
2. Be aware of antepartum hemorrhage
Placenta previa is more common in twin pregnancies.This condition involves painless bleeding caused by the placenta separating from the uterine lining during late pregnancy. Some women experience significant bleeding during sleep, delaying critical care. Bleeding typically progresses gradually—starting with minor spotting that stops for days before increasing to heavy hemorrhage. Therefore, never ignore minor bleeding during pregnancy; remain vigilant to prevent emergencies.
3. Cesarean section is the safest and simplest delivery method for multiple pregnancies.
There is no difference in delivery methods between twins and singletons—most twins are delivered vaginally, and giving birth to two is no more painful than giving birth to one.However, multiple pregnancies carry a higher risk of requiring other interventions. Twin pregnancies also face increased risks of preterm birth and smaller birth weight, necessitating extra time and specialized care.
A cesarean section should be chosen if one or both babies are in an unfavorable birth position. For a cephalic presentation, vaginal delivery is possible but may cause the second baby to adopt a transverse position. Attempting vaginal delivery is generally not recommended for other presentations.Twin pregnancies are considered high-risk, necessitating more frequent prenatal checkups and closer adherence to medical advice than singleton pregnancies.
Situations that may lead to a cesarean section during twin delivery:
One or both babies are in a breech position (buttocks or feet presenting first). Sometimes, after the first baby is born, the second baby may rotate into a breech position.
One baby lies horizontally across the uterus (transverse position)—if this is the lower twin, a cesarean section is absolutely necessary.Postpartum vaginal bleeding is heavier for twin mothers, so extra attention to perineal hygiene is crucial. In addition to washing with warm water 1-2 times daily, sexual intercourse must be strictly avoided. Due to the uterus being excessively stretched during twin pregnancy, postpartum uterine recovery is slower. To aid uterine restoration and prevent retroversion or prolapse, the chest-knee position can be adopted after two weeks.