Hello everyone,

I am new to this site but have already found the forums extremely helpful. I am 9 weeks 5 days pregnant with triplets. Trying to find as much information about having triplets as possible. I will be a first time mom and I feel clueless about trying to prepare. I really would like to know if those of you who have already delivered triplets have any tips about trying to prolong pregnancy as long as possible to prevent preterm birth and low birth weight babies. Bedrest, cerclages, medications to prevent labor, and low birth weight preemies are all scary thoughts to me. I would just really appreciate any tips you would pass along that really made you feel like they were key aspects to trying to prolong a triplet pregnancy. Thanks!

I personally believe that it all depends on your body. There are some women who never go on bedrest take medication and deliver 36 weeks and then there are others that fight from day one. I fought to stay pregnant. I was 50% effaced at 9 weeks. I at a cerclage at 12 weeks, strict bedrest at 18 weeks, I took indocine and tributiline (which is now off the market) at home, I was hospitilazed at 25 weeks and placed on mag, and indocine and delivered at 30 weeks. My babies weighed 2 lbs 10oz, 2lbs 14oz and 3lbs 1oz. The best advice I can tell you is to get a good doctor and do everything he tells you to do. COngrats on your pregnancy.

I think all of us who are/ were carrying triplets FOUGHT HARD to stay pregnant for as long as we can. We all know the risks of premature births. As we all know, even with the same efforts or more, the outcome may not necessarily be the same. To imply otherwise is an insult to all of us who suffered through NICU and losses.

I did ALL of the above - bedrest, read Dr. Luke's book cover to cover and more, got top notch perinatologist who saw me every 2 weeks since I was 10wks pregnant, eat healthy, took good care of myself and my cervix held but my babies were born at 26 weeks. My water broke WHEN I WAS TAKING A NAP!!! I went from 3cm cervix to 9cm dilated WITHOUT LABOUR in less than 48 hours. Go figure!

The advice I can give you is take good care of yourself and do the best you can. Hope and Pray that your babies will stay in you for as long as they can. If it is otherwise, IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! It took me a long time to forgive myself and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

CONGRATULATIONS!

There is some evidence that is you gain a good amount of weight before week 20 the placenta(s) last longer. I think Barbara Luke's book what to expect when expecting twins, triplets or quads is a valuable resource. Like the PP get hooked up with a good Doctor, not just an OB but a Maternal Fetal Dr or Perinatologist who has experience with high order multiples. I ended up with an emergent cerclage at 19 weeks and in the hospital on bedrest and mag at 28 weeks. I delivered at exactly 30 weeks. At home I was on a terbutaline pump, but like the pp said it is off the market. Good luck and this site has a search history that you can also get some great information on.

Lisa T
bbg (identical/fraternal)
30 weeks
3.1, 3.1, 2.14

Get the book When You Are Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads by Dr. Barbara Luke. It has great info in there. In the book they say how important a high calorie diet is. You should be taking in 4000 calories a day at least right now and try to be packing on weight. Once you get to about 24 weeks you will not be able to eat enough to sustain you 4 so do it now.

Are you from Oklahoma???

Shely~ Mom to 1+bbg

Get the Dr. Luke book, eat as much as you possibly can, drink water until you want to float and then drink some more, rest and make sure you are seeing a peri or MFM. That is about all you can control. There is no way of knowing how your body will react to a multiple pregnancy and a lot of things you can't control. I went 36 weeks with no bedrest and my only complication gestational diabetes. There are woman who took every precaution in the world and gave birth to micro preemies. There are SO many variables that cause issues in a triplet pregnancy and no magical formula to prevent them. Do the best you can and listen to your doctor. Good luck.

Lori

http://yesidohavemyhandsfull.blogspot.com/

I agree with the other posts...Luke's book has some good advice...eat, drink and relax. Stop work early...I worked way too late into the pregnancy. Rest - rest -rest...eat while you're resting.

Try not to worry...good luck!

Janet
G - 12/07 35 weeks
GGG-04/10 30 weeks

I agree, Dr Luke's book is wonderful.

I went on modified bedrest at 20 weeks, and I think it was very helpful. I was able to eat, sleep and not waste any energy/stress trying to make it through a day at work or do extra household duties.

Drink tons of fluids (some water, I also drank protein shakes to get enough cals and protein).

As I have a 2 story house, around 30 weeks along I could hardly get up and down the stairs without getting breathless and my heart pounding and started really swelling. That's when my MFM put me on hospital bedrest.

I made it to 33 weeks (delivered due to PIH issues).

Best of luck to you!
Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)

our triplets are 3 wks old today...they were born at 28 weeks. I believe we made it that far because my wife had taken it very easy from 20 wks until delivery...i also believe that the 2 rds of steroids that MFM ordered were a huge help...My suggestion...rest, water, read the book by Luke...gain the weight as healthy as you can and my most important piece of advice...shop around for quality OB and MFM...if you went thru fertility and you liked the dr. maybe they can point you in a good direction...thats just one guys opinion, definitely weigh your options! GOOD LUCK!!!

I've read the book. Eat, eat and eat again. Drink fluids. I've had a cerclage put in at 16 weeks, and quit my job at 20 weeks. Spend the rest of the pregnancy on the couch(mostly). Try to stay off your feet. Oh and don't stress, it's not worth it, not even a bit. I had an episode and ended up in hospital at 30 weeks, luckily only for a week and they let me go home afterward. I had a tour of NICU and realized nothing is worth putting your babies at risk! I've made it to 35w5d!!! I've developed preeclampsia and had an emergency C-section.

GBB triplets born @ 35 weeks 5 days on 03/24/2011
Triplet A 3 lbs 14oz
Triplet B 3 lbs 13oz
Triplet C 5 lbs 4oz

GAIN WEIGHT!!!

I started at 114 lbs & delivered weighing 205ish. I had a cerclage put in at 20 weeks- hospitalized for 2 weeks @ 24 weeks for a shortened cervix & ended up delivering at 35w1d... They wouldn't let me go any longer. Weights were 4lb12oz, 5lb8oz, 5lb8oz. I also FORCED bed rest. It killed me once the babies were born b/c I was incredibly out of shape but I'm convinced it is what helped them stay in there. My husband deployed when I was 22 weeks so I had to move in with my parents. They took excellent care of me and I pretty much stayed in a recliner for 4 months straight. I went to the bathroom, downstairs once a day & to dr appts. It seemed awful and neverending at the time but once I had my healthy, beautiful babies, I forgot ALL about it!!

I'm just starting Dr. Luke's book right now....is it worth getting the consult?

I'm not against gaining weight but this pregnancy, like my previous two, I am started already large. With both of the previous pregnancies I gained weight upfront and then coasted through the second and third trimesters--nothing was planned with my horrible "morning" sickness so I just ate healthfully and followed my body's cues. However, with both pregnancies, I gained very little overall, again not planned it was just what my body did naturally. Still, both babies came post 39 weeks and were 8# + each.

I'm kinda at a loss what to do with this pregnancy because everything seems so new and foreign. I want to keep em in as long as I can but to eat 4000, I think I'd explode! How'd you ladies do it? Also, isn't there a concern for TOO much? I gain all of my mass, sadly, in my abdomen and that is bad for the heart.

Congratulations. The things you describe, bedrest, cerclages, pre-term labor, low birth weight, are the "daily bread" of this type of pregnancy. I, as I'm certain everyone in this site, started my pregnancy with the determination of "it is not going to happen to me", "I'm going to make it until 36 weeks". Still, I delivered at 30 weeks and was on bedrest at 20 weeks. Fortunately, my girls all did well.

My advice to you is take it easy from the beginning, rest, no heavy lifting, and drink tons of water. I'm pretty sure my pre-term labor started from deciding to hop on a train to NYC to fight a traffic ticket. After all the walking and stress of the day, I started feeling contractions at 18 weeks, I still beat myself over that stupid decision.

However, please know that even if you do all the right things you may still need to deal with some of the nasty consequences of a triplet pregnancy. And that, while difficult & stressful, is fine and for the most part manageable.

Best of luck,

Leni
GGG Trio
Born at 30 weeks, June 2008