Triplet Pregnancies
Pregnancy is exciting and can be difficult all at once, but triplet pregnancies can be exciting, difficult, and quite interesting. When parents are preparing for the arrival of a new baby, they do everything they can to get the nursery ready and have it waiting to bring their baby home to. They also bring in a significant supply of diapers, either cloth or disposable. If they are using cloth diapers, more than likely they will have set up a diaper service for 3 months or so. This can all become quite costly for even ONE baby. Imagine what they will do when they find out they are one of the rare triplet pregnancies.
While twins seem to have a genetic disposition and run in families, multiple babies are can be the result of the mother receiving fertility treatments prior to conception. This is especially common when the mother has opted for in vetro fertilization or IVF. Her eggs and her partner’s sperm have been joined together in a lab. Once fertilization happens, the embryo is then placed into her uterus to grow. A part of the process includes placing more than one viable embryo in the uterus to make the chances of a successful pregnancy greater. Many times these can result in triplet pregnancies or even more babies at once.
Carrying so many babies at once can prove to be a strain physically for the mother, as they grow and gain weight inside her. It isn’t uncommon for mothers who are carrying several babies to be put on bed rest in the latter part of their pregnancies. The majority of these pregnancies deliver by cesarean section to make sure that each baby comes into the world in a safe manner. Since many of these pregnancies end in premature births, a C-section is the best way to move the babies from mother to incubators as quickly as possible.
Babies born from triplet pregnancies are expected to have low birth weights. After all, they have been sharing such a small space for the past several months, and getting their nourishment from one human. As it is expected, it is also prepared for and most babies from multiple births have an excellent survival rate in spite of weighing less.
New mothers who expected to breastfeed their baby can, with some diligence, determination, and practice, also manage to feed babies born from triplet pregnancies. Once you know for sure that you are carrying 3 babies, contact your local La Leche League. These people will be able to help you prepare for breastfeeding more than one baby. It’s something that they have seen happen successfully many times.
The best way to get ready for your new babies is to accept any and all offers of help. You are going to need it. Take advantage of special coupons and discounts. Let trusted family members and friends come to babysit or just help you and your partner care for the babies. While sleep is a vital part of healing for the new mother, it may also become a thing of the past. Showers will be a vacation. But in the end, it will all be worth it when your babies smile at you for the very first time.
