If you are expecting multiples, your doctor should have already talked with you about the need to take it easy and not overexert yourself to try to avoid strict bed rest.  For instance, when I was pregnant with my twins I only did light housework and my husband did all the vacuuming and heavy lifting in the household.  My doctor had me lie down for 15-20 minutes every morning and afternoon starting at 25 weeks.  We had been waiting a long time for the chance to have children and I didn’t want to take any chances, so I followed my doctor’s orders to the letter.

The higher the order multiples you are expecting, the less work and more rest your doctor will want you to do.  If you are expecting triplets, most doctors will suggest resting 2-3 times per day starting at about 21 weeks.  If you are expecting quadruplets, some doctors will suggest resting 2-3 times per day starting at 18 weeks and some doctors will require bed rest starting at 18 weeks.

Doctors suggest resting or bed rest for good reason.  For every day your babies stay inside of you they have an increased chance of being born healthy and spending less time in the NICU.  Doctors typically hope for 34-36 weeks for twins, 32-34 weeks for triplets and at least 30 weeks for quadruplets.  Believe it or not, there is a huge difference between 33 weeks and 33 weeks five days.  As you are trying to take care of yourself and your babies during your pregnancy, resting and bed rest become crucial.

If you experience any complications or preterm labor, doctors will begin to order (not suggest) strict bed rest.  Going from a suggestion to an order means that your doctor is very concerned and that preterm birth is imminent if you do not slow down and take it easy.

If you are now at the point of being on bed rest as you are reading this, there are some things you need to keep in mind to help you through this time.  First of all, learn to let things go.  Your house can be dusted and vacuumed when it gets dusted and vacuumed and laundry can wait too.  Chances are your spouse and your family are hopefully helping around the house when they can and what doesn’t get done one day will keep for the next.  At this point your main job and focus is on delivering healthy babies and that is all everyone cares about.  It doesn’t matter if you can write your name in dust on the TV.  What matters is your health and your babies’ health, so let it go.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  If someone offers to go for groceries for you or clean your house or walk your dog, say “yes”.  They ask because they truly want to help and you answer yes because you truly need it.  When I was on bed rest in the hospital for three weeks because my son’s water broke at 28 weeks, my husband played superman for as long as he could until he became exhausted.  We learned to say “yes” and write thank you notes expressing our gratitude.

If you have other children in the household, strict bed rest might be impossible.  However, you need to rest as much as possible or your home bed rest will become hospital bed rest and being away from them will be extremely hard.  Again, ask for help with them.  Make arrangements for play dates with other children and have their parents either come to your house and supervise or take your child to their house.  Enjoy snuggle time with your child.  You can read books, watch movies and do easy craft projects together.  Chances are they will enjoy the fact that they have your undivided attention.

Whether you are just beginning your pregnancy with multiples or have reached the point of needing daily rest or bed rest, I can not stress enough how important it is to follow your doctor’s orders.  One of the biggest responsibilities of parenthood is to ensure that your babies get here safely and soundly.  The best way to do this is to get as much rest as possible, take care of yourself and keep yourself healthy as well.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 9th, 2006 at 5:08 am and is filed under Multiples. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.