Pregnancy diet, nutrition & prenatal vitamins

You need to remember taking an iron supplement. Continue taking the supplement until a few weeks after birth. If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough red blood cells. A lack of red blood cells is called iron deficiency anemia. There’s an increased risk of bleeding more than you normally would during labor, when you give birth to twins. This is because the uterus is very large. Pregnancy and labor increase your likelihood of becoming anemic.

Fetal development & baby size

Your babies measure approximately 51 centimeters (20.08 inches), when you’re 40 weeks pregnant with twins. Many women experience that their babies act more quiet in the days leading up to the birth. Nevertheless, it’s important that you feel your babies kick several times a day even though their movements may be more quiet. If you can’t feel your babies as often as usual, call your doctor or midwife. They’ll probably ask you to come in so they can do an exam and make sure that everything is okay. You also need to react if one of your twins changes his or her pattern markedly.

Pregnancy symptoms & belly

Your belly is large at this point in your pregnancy, and you’ll feel the extra weight in your pelvis and back. As you hopefully have throughout your pregnancy, take good care of yourself in these last days of your pregnancy. Rest, nap and get family or friends to pitch in if you have older children. It can be hard to put yourself first especially if your have older children that are still quite young – and you probably won’t be able to a lot of the time. However, make sure that you do it once in a while – if you run yourself down, you won’t be able to care for your children in the way you’d like.

Pregnancy diet, nutrition & prenatal vitamins

There’s an increased risk of bleeding more than you normally would during labor, when you give birth to twins. This is due to the fact that the uterus is very large. Because of the expected blood loss, it’s a good idea a to continue taking an iron supplement until a few weeks after birth. This is to prevent you becoming anemic.

Fetal development & baby size

Your babies measure approximately 50 centimeters (19.69 inches) at 39 weeks pregnant with twins. Your babies bones are still soft. Between the bones of their skulls there are joints called sutures. They can ‘give’ a little under the pressure on the baby’s head as he or she passes down the birth canal. This is good as it helps the baby through the narrow birth canal. During early childhood, these sutures harden and the skull bones can no longer move relative to one another. The head of most babies born vaginally becomes misshapen to some degree during the birth process. It returns to normal within a few days after birth.

Pregnancy symptoms & belly pictures

You may feel VERY big and uncomfortable by now, as your children are taking up a lot of room in your womb. Common symptoms are:

• Pelvic pressure. It’s hard carrying two babies. Please note that sudden and intense pelvic pressure can be a sign of early labor.

• Lower back pain.

• It might feel like there’s no room left in your stomach. It’s difficult to eat a full meal. You may feel constipated as well.

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