twin pregnancy "rules"

mrs.cam

So I've read WTEWYE and Dr Luke's book but I still don't feel like I know what things are not OK during a multiple pregnancy that are OK with a singleton... like

Is prenatal massage ok?  What about exercise? 

Any tips on things I should know that are specific to multiple pregnancies?

Thanks for your help!

robinsokj

It all depends.  Massage is fine as long as you dont have a medical reason not to get one.  I was exercising until I went on modified bedrest due to lots of contractions. 

groovygrl

Some OB's are going to be more conservative than others but there are no set 'rules'. i know mine was not a big fan of exercise past mid-2nd tri but at that point I started having RLP and other weird stuff if I did too much so I didn't care. Mine also liked multiple pg's to stop working or cut by by 3rd tri but he is really conservative...

nygrl79

I had two massages during my pregnancy, one around 24 weeks and another around 32.  My OB said it is fine, but you should ask your Dr.  Same for exercise, ask your Dr.  It depends on personal circumstances and how your pregnancy is progressing.  I was exercising until I got a subchorionic hematoma at 10.5 weeks.  After that, I was told to take it easy, plus, I was having a lot of contractions starting about 15 weeks on and was afraid. 

macchiatto

I would check with your dr on those things. I did get prenatal massage while pg (checked with my OB first) and also exercised but it was pretty moderate. (Dr. Luke's book did cover exercise guidelines, from what I remember but like pp's said a lot will depend on your specific circumstances.)

Shannonlea

I agree you should as your OB.  The only restriction I had was she asked me to quit working out at 30 weeks.  I never got a prenatal massage but that sounds relaxing.  If I were to get one while I was pregnant, I would have just run it by here.

tiki_t

The first thing that I learned about twin pregnancy was from my twins class. Here's the rule to live by...

"Pick one person to listen to during your pregnancy and ignore everyone else. That one person should be your doctor. If you don't trust your doctor, then find another doctor."

The reason being is because each case is different depending on your medical history and current status. What might be safe for one person or a group of people could be dangerous for you. Always get your advice from your one person... your doctor! 

txdaisygal

tiki_t:

The first thing that I learned about twin pregnancy was from my twins class. Here's the rule to live by...

"Pick one person to listen to during your pregnancy and ignore everyone else. That one person should be your doctor. If you don't trust your doctor, then find another doctor."

The reason being is because each case is different depending on your medical history and current status. What might be safe for one person or a group of people could be dangerous for you. Always get your advice from your one person... your doctor! 

 

ITA agree with this. It's so easy to get overwhelmed with advice from different people. And, even though people who have been pregnant with a singleton mean well and are just trying to help, a multiples pregnancy is different and so many times their advice isn't on track for what you'll need.

The only thing I'd add is to listen to your body and trust your gut instinct. If you're feeling tired, rest. If you're hungry, eat. Don't feel pressured to do more than you feel up to.