Your babies have reached a significant milestone this week: viability! Viability means your babies could now survive outside your body. Since most multiples are born early, this is a huge deal. However, we know you’d like your little ones to sit tight for a bit longer.
You’re more than halfway to your due date now! What can you expect this week? Let’s take a peek.
What’s new with your babies?
Your little ones’ lungs are doing great work these days as they practice taking those sweet newborn breaths. Their lungs have begun making a liquid substance called surfactant, which will help them expand once your babies are out of your body and breathing open air. This is the main reason why your babies could survive outside your body at 24 weeks.
Your babies are also working on developing their taste buds. Did you know what you eat while you’re pregnant could impact your babies’ food preferences later in life? All the more reason to pack your diet with a variety of tasty and nutritious foods.
Your babies are around 1.3 pounds each now — about the size of an eggplant!
How are you doing?
Carrying multiples can be more taxing than carrying a singleton, as you’ve likely come to realize. If you’ve been pregnant with just one baby in the past, you’re probably noticing you’re growing more (and faster) than when you were carrying a single baby. This is perfectly normal.
Even still, the physical demands of growing multiple babies can be trying. Your healthcare provider may recommend increased amounts of rest during the day moving forward. Don’t hesitate to relax if you’re feeling fatigued.
Many women start getting Braxton Hicks, or “false labor” contractions, around this point of their pregnancy. Staying hydrated can help combat this discomfort; you should aim to drink around a gallon of water per day. Rest, changing positions, and emptying your bladder can also help calm them down.
Will testing take place this week?
You can expect your office visits to pick up at this point to ensure your babies are progressing on target and without complications. Your monthly appointments will now shift to biweekly or even weekly, depending on how closely your babies need to be monitored.
Within the next month, you will have your glucose challenge test (GCT) to screen for gestational diabetes. This routine test is performed by having you drink a sugary drink, then having your blood drawn one hour later to see how your body processes glucose. This is typically performed around between 24 and 28 weeks but may be done sooner if your healthcare provider feels you are at an increased risk.
Let’s plan ahead!
Remember your old friend, the dentist? With all your prenatal visits, it may have slipped your mind to schedule a cleaning. Annual dental exams and routine cleanings are safe and recommended throughout pregnancy. Set up an appointment if you’re due since leaning back in that chair could soon get a bit uncomfortable.
It’s also important to have your dentist screen you for pregnancy gingivitis. When you’re expecting, your progesterone levels are elevated, making your teeth more sensitive to the bacteria found in plaque. Keeping up with regular cleanings can help prevent common dental issues that go hand-in-hand with pregnancy.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Multifetal gestation: Twin, triplet, and higher order multifetal pregnancies.” National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2014. Retrieved
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Multifetal gestation: Twin, triplet, and higher order multifetal pregnancies.” National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, December 13 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/twin-pregnancy/art-20048161.
- “FAQ: Multiple pregnancy.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, July 2015. Retrieved May 15 2021.
