Multifetal Pregnancy

Nakshatra Fertility, Intimacy & Cosmetic Clinic

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Multifetal Pregnancy

Overview

Multifetal pregnancy means when a mother carries twins or triplets or more than that multiple. It is a cause of mortality and morbidity in babies during birth. Obstetrician faces challenges during pregnancy. During the surgical process or usual way of delivery, the babies need special care. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, USA, the births of twins have increased by seventy-five per cent. The births of triplets and quadruplets have also raised.
The cause of this increase is women are getting infertility treatments. In infertility treatments, more than one embryo gets implanted in the uterus. It increases the chance of being pregnant. Nowadays, many women are waiting to get pregnant in the later stages of life. It decreases the chances of getting pregnant through the normal process.
The younger woman has a higher chance of getting pregnant than an older woman. To attempt pregnancy, older women are opting for infertility clinics. Even though the medical sciences have improved a lot from the 1980s, women still face complications for multifetal pregnancy.
Twins are the most common multifetal pregnancy among the others. When an embryo gets divided, identical twins occur. Two different eggs and sperms give non-identical twins happen. There is a chance that one of the twins may disappear during the initial stages. It causes vaginal bleeding.

About Vaginal Infection

Vaginal Infection

Listed below are the signs and symptoms of Multifetal Pregnancy.

  • Larger Uterus
    In the early stages of pregnancy, if the mother is carrying twins or more babies, then the size of the uterus becomes large. The uterus wall expands to give space to the babies. Thus the mother’s body looks big than expected.
  • Morning Sicknesses
    Mothers who carry more than one baby in their womb face more morning sickness than usual. The nausea feelings might occur at an early stage, even before the pregnancy test.
  • Increase in appetite
    The umbilical cord of the mother provides food for the babies. Carrying more than one baby will demand more food intake so that the babies in the womb get proper nutrition.
  • Gains weight
    In the early stages of pregnancy, the mother gains a lot of weight. As the womb is the home to multiple babies, thus the mother starts to gains weight in the early stages.
  • Movements felt in the uterus
    Movements of the babies in different parts of the uterus. The mother will feel fatigued. During the first trimester, the mother will go through exhaustion, lethargy and sleepiness.
  • Heartbeat
    Getting more than one heartbeat in doppler heartbeat count. A doppler system gives out harmless sound waves. It amplifies the fetal sound. It helps to know the heartbeats of the babies.
  • AFP Test
    The results of the AFP test comes abnormal. It is a blood test. A woman who is pregnant with more than one baby produces a higher blood test result.

Many women mistakenly believe they are carrying two or more babies. Early in pregnancy, the healthcare practitioner may make the diagnosis of multiples. If you’ve taken reproductive treatments, this is particularly true. A medical history, physical examination, and any of the following tests may be used by the doctor to make the diagnosis:

  • Pregnancy blood testing
    Multiple pregnancies may result in elevated levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
  • Alpha-fetoprotein
    When more than one baby is producing the same protein, the amount produced by the fetal liver and detected in the mother’s blood may be higher.
  • Ultrasound
    To produce pictures of blood arteries, tissues, and organs, this imaging technique utilizes high-frequency sound waves. In the early stages of pregnancy, ultrasounds may be performed using a vaginal probe (transducer). Alternatively, an abdominal probe may be used later on in pregnancy.
  • Proper Nutrition
    Carrying more than one baby will need an intake of high nutrition-rich food. As the umbilical cords carry nutrition to the babies, thus nutrition should be more in the mother’s blood.
  • Frequent Pregnancy Checkups
    Multifetal pregnancy increases the risk of complications. Thus the mother needs regular checkups. The pregnancy visits will determine defects at an early stage.
  • Take Complete Rest
    Prolong your time to take rest. Avoid standing for too long during later stages of pregnancies.
  • Tocolytic medications
    If premature labour occurs, it slows or stops the contraction in the uterus. This treatment is given intravenously or through injections and orally.
  • Cervical cerclage
    Women who have a weak cervix receives cervical cerclage. It helps the cervix to stay close.
  • Corticosteroid medications
    It helps to mature the lungs of the baby.