A Guide To Receiving Outpatient Prenatal Care As An Older Mom Experiencing A High-Risk Pregnancy With Twins Or More

Although every pregnancy is unique and it's virtually impossible to say at the beginning of a pregnancy that everything will go well throughout the following months, a  twin pregnancy often presents with additional risk to the mother and babies. Therefore, when you're pregnant with twins, you will usually be classified as high-risk as soon as the extra baby is noticed and if you're expecting three or more babies, the risks to you and your unborn children increase even more. Fortunately, excellent medical care is available as an outpatient and when properly accessed, can provide you with the best opportunities for a healthy pregnancy and babies. Therefore, when you have recently discovered that your family is getting two or more members, it's best to be aware of the following facts.   

You Should Expect To Be Seen In The Outpatient Care Clinic More Often 

In recent years, due to the use of fertility treatments and older women having babies, multiple births have become more common. Unfortunately, the higher numbers of high-risk pregnancies doesn't negate the fact that you're more likely to experience high-blood pressure, toxemia, gestational diabetes, etc. as the rest of your age and the number of babies you're carrying. The increased risks of a pregnancy with multiples also means that you are more likely to experience preterm labor and require bed-rest to prevent a premature delivery. 

In addition, if your early labor cannot be stopped or if one of the above complications is putting you or your babies at increased risk, pre-term delivery is quite possible. For instance, the average pregnancy with twins lasts just 35 weeks, while a pregnancy with triplets ends at an average of 33 weeks. Therefore, you can expect to be seen as an outpatient more often than women with just one baby on the way and monitored more closely, including extra ultrasounds, throughout your pregnancy. 

Additional Blood Tests May Be Suggested For Mature Moms Who Are Expecting Twins Or More 

In addition, if you are over the age of 35, the chances of your babies having a genetic disorder increase, so you might be asked to receive testing such as Chorionic Villus Sample, or CVS, which analyzes the genetic information from the placenta. Additional information might be procured from the use of an amniocentesis, which tests a small amount of the amniotic fluid surrounding your babies. Toward the end of your pregnancy, an amniocentesis, which can also be known as an amnio, can be done to determine if your lungs of your babies are mature enough to be born. In that instance, the amnio is usually suggested when you are experiencing complications of your pregnancy that might result in significant harm to you or your babies. 

However, it is important to be aware that those tests are invasive and present with a slightly increased chance of miscarriage. In addition, their use has sometimes been controversial because their results are not always accurate when two or more babies are present in the womb. That means that you should discuss the benefits of that extra testing against the risks of receiving them with your physician.                

In conclusion, a pregnancy with two or more babies is often classified as high-risk and carrying three or more is even more so. As a result, when you are expecting multiples, you'll benefit from the above information about your prenatal care as an outpatient. 


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