Acknowledgments | p. ix |
Top Ten Myths and Misconceptions about Multiples | p. x |
Foreword | p. xi |
Introduction | p. xiii |
The Magic of Multiples | p. 1 |
Myths and Mysteries about Multiples | p. 2 |
What's Different about Multiples | p. 3 |
The Bond They Share | p. 5 |
Famous Multiples | p. 7 |
An Introduction to Zygosity | p. 13 |
What Is Zygosity? | p. 14 |
Dizygotic Twins | p. 15 |
Monozygotic Twins | p. 16 |
Other Zygosity Variations | p. 18 |
Twin Typing in Utero | p. 20 |
After Birth | p. 22 |
Supertwins: Triplets and More | p. 25 |
What Are Supertwins? | p. 26 |
Reproductive Technology and Supertwins | p. 27 |
Extreme Supertwins | p. 30 |
Special Medical Considerations | p. 30 |
Selective Reduction | p. 33 |
Preparing for Supertwins | p. 35 |
The First Trimester | p. 37 |
Signs and Symptoms of Multiples | p. 38 |
HCG Screening and Multiples | p. 40 |
Confirming That There Is More Than One | p. 41 |
Physical Changes | p. 43 |
Other Early Effects | p. 47 |
Your Emotional State | p. 48 |
The Babies' Development in the First Trimester | p. 49 |
The Middle Trimester | p. 51 |
Ultrasounds and Tests | p. 52 |
Your Body's Changes | p. 56 |
Weight Gain | p. 58 |
Maternity Clothes | p. 60 |
Special Considerations for Higher Order Multiples | p. 61 |
The Final Trimester | p. 63 |
Staying Comfortable | p. 64 |
When Will You Deliver? | p. 67 |
Making a Birth Plan | p. 69 |
Preparing for Delivery | p. 72 |
Choosing Names for Your Multiples | p. 75 |
Baby Showers for Multiples | p. 76 |
Having a Healthy Pregnancy | p. 79 |
What Should I Eat? | p. 80 |
How Much Should I Eat? | p. 83 |
Nutritional Supplements | p. 85 |
The Importance of Fluids | p. 87 |
Exercise and Activity | p. 88 |
Rest and Relaxation | p. 90 |
Things to Avoid | p. 93 |
Your Medical Care | p. 97 |
What's Different When There's More Than One? | p. 98 |
Finding the Right Doctor | p. 99 |
Exploring Options: Midwives, Doulas, and Home Births | p. 101 |
Making the Choice | p. 103 |
Your Prenatal Care | p. 105 |
Choosing a Pediatrician | p. 107 |
Setting Up the Nursery | p. 109 |
Cribs: One, Two, or More? | p. 110 |
Changing Table and Diaper Stations | p. 111 |
Other Useful Nursery Furniture | p. 112 |
Baby Monitors | p. 113 |
Outfitting the Layette | p. 113 |
Linens and Bedding | p. 116 |
Double Decorating | p. 117 |
Babyproofing | p. 118 |
Buying Accessories and Equipment | p. 121 |
The Diaper Dilemma | p. 122 |
Bottles and Feeding Accessories | p. 123 |
Choosing the Right Stroller | p. 125 |
Seats, Carriers, and Swings | p. 130 |
More Handy Items for Your Multiples | p. 132 |
Adapting Your Lifestyle | p. 133 |
Creating a Workable Budget | p. 134 |
Working It Out | p. 135 |
Child-Care Options | p. 137 |
Maintaining Your Marriage | p. 138 |
Dad's Role | p. 138 |
Preparing Siblings | p. 140 |
Handling Stress | p. 141 |
Complications | p. 143 |
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome | p. 144 |
"Mo-Mo" Twins: The Danger of Being Monoamniotic | p. 147 |
Conjoined Twinning | p. 149 |
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) | p. 150 |
Gestational Diabetes | p. 152 |
Placenta Problems | p. 152 |
Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) | p. 154 |
Bed Rest | p. 157 |
What Bed Rest Accomplishes | p. 158 |
What to Expect | p. 160 |
Partial Versus Full Bed Rest | p. 161 |
Hospitalization for Bed Rest | p. 163 |
Surviving Off Your Feet | p. 165 |
Preterm Labor | p. 169 |
Why Preterm Labor Is a Concern | p. 170 |
Causes of Preterm Labor | p. 171 |
Ways to Reduce Your Risk | p. 174 |
Signs of Preterm Labor | p. 175 |
Cerclage | p. 178 |
Treatment Options for Preterm Labor | p. 179 |
Labor with Multiples | p. 183 |
Signs of Labor | p. 184 |
At the Hospital: Examination and Preparation | p. 186 |
Inducing Labor | p. 186 |
Stages of Labor | p. 188 |
Monitoring | p. 190 |
Pain Management During Labor | p. 192 |
Delivering Your Babies | p. 195 |
Presentation Combinations | p. 196 |
Is Vaginal Delivery an Option for You? | p. 197 |
Vaginal Delivery: Pushing | p. 200 |
The Intermission: Between Babies | p. 201 |
Final Stage: Delivery of the Placenta(s) | p. 202 |
Cesarean Section | p. 203 |
The Babies' First Few Moments | p. 206 |
Postpartum Care and Recovery | p. 207 |
Premature Multiples | p. 211 |
The Impact of Premature Birth | p. 212 |
Medical Issues of Premature Birth | p. 213 |
Surviving an NICU Stay | p. 218 |
The Road to Home | p. 221 |
Caring for Preemies at Home | p. 222 |
Breastfeeding and Bottle Feeding | p. 225 |
Making the Decision | p. 226 |
Breastfeeding Multiples | p. 227 |
Getting the Right Nutrients | p. 235 |
Alternative Feeding Using Breast Milk | p. 236 |
Bottle Feeding | p. 238 |
Combination Approach | p. 241 |
The First Few Months | p. 243 |
Getting Sleep | p. 244 |
Setting Schedules | p. 246 |
Baby Care Multiplied | p. 247 |
Crying Is Communicating | p. 250 |
Keeping Things Straight | p. 252 |
Bonding with Everyone | p. 253 |
Getting Out and About | p. 255 |
Special Situations | p. 259 |
First-Time Parents | p. 260 |
Multiples after Infertility | p. 262 |
Single Parents of Multiples | p. 264 |
Adopting Multiples | p. 265 |
Multiple Multiples | p. 267 |
Loss of a Multiple | p. 269 |
Finding Support During Pregnancy and Beyond | p. 273 |
Joining a Support Group | p. 274 |
Seeking Support Online | p. 276 |
Prenatal and Childbirth Classes | p. 278 |
Help from Family and Friends | p. 280 |
Professional Services and Counseling | p. 283 |
Recommended Resources | p. 287 |
Additional Reading | p. 287 |
Online Resources | p. 289 |
Keeping Track: Charting Your Newborns' Progress | p. 295 |
Filling Out Your Progress Chart | p. 295 |
Index | p. 297 |
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