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Syncletica
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| Posted: May 25 2013 at 12:35am | IP Logged
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Amanda - were you quite hungry? I don't seem to be, but I do eat, although it almost doesn't sound like the amount some moms have been recommending....is there a way to tell that you've eaten enough? Sounds like feeling full isn't it. :)
Editing to add: Jenn, your links are fantastic!! Thank you!
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Syncletica
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| Posted: May 25 2013 at 12:37am | IP Logged
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And yet another one -- Jenn, those are fantastic links. Thank you!
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JodieLyn
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I can't use any of the artificial sweeteners, but fresh fruit can often be had even with blood sugar issues and that helps a great deal for the sweet tooth.
Your best bet though is to get off all sweeteners because they'll just keep you craving the sweets that you can't have (for now). And the fruit will taste even sweeter by contrast with not having sugar or artificial sweeteners.
I believe you can get the monitors at any drugstore. Here I think if the doc prescribes it, you can have insurance pay for it.. but they pay for limited testing strips and you'd want more than that to start with.
The nice thing is that once you're stable, while you'll need to keep a check on it, it won't have to be so often. Even in the hospital for me (on bedrest with previa), once I got it stable, they only checked it once a day.
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: May 25 2013 at 6:49am | IP Logged
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My MIL, who has very sensitive blood sugar, her's will sky rocket with almost any form of carbs, etc.( this is more unusual), can use stevia. In fact that is one of the only sweets she can use that won't affect her blood sugar. Stevia is not an artificial sweetener, it's a plant. As Jodie mentioned, often artificial sweeteners can be not only bad for blood sugar, they are bad for health in general.
One thing my Mom looked into that has really helped her blood sugars is eating foods with a "low glycemic index", she has found that and the protein shakes mentioned in the quote below to be very stabilizing for her blood sugars:
Servant2theKing wrote:
Protein shakes might be an easy way to increase your protein & nutrition intake, especially when it's difficult to eat as your sweet babies get bigger.
Some ingred. I've tried and find easy to tolerate:
~Whey powder (BioChem 100% Whey Protein Vanilla is a flavor that doesn't overpower)
~Greek yogurt
~Milk
~Bolthouse Farms Smoothie (Amazing Mango is light & pleasant tasting ~ I use about 4-6 oz. per double shake)
Shaker bottles are an easy way to whip up a shake you can sip throughout the day. BlenderBottle.com makes a sport bottle version which holds 26 oz. BTW, I've never tried it but some people add nut butters to their shake ~ another simple way to increase your protein intake.
Praying for you and your precious little ones.  |
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I know in the end months, I wasn't really hungry either, I just had to keep eating, anyway. Maybe try some shakes to sip on throughout the day. And graze on small meals more frequently all through the day. You really do have to keep eating to support the needs of 2 babies. Feeling full is definitely not the way to know you are eating enough. 
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JennGM
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Definitely get a monitor, so you can figure out your levels. Usually take it right at awakening, and 2 hours post-prandial.
When the numbers are higher, then take notice on how you feel. I always find myself being sleepy and very thirsty.
Two things help get the blood sugar levels down -- exercise and drinking lots of water. I couldn't even walk during my pregnancies due to some complications, so diet and lots of water was key for me.
If you find yourself sweating in the night and needing to go more often to the bathroom (than you already do with pregnancy) that is an indicator. You also might want to pick up ketone tester (very inexpensive unlike the blood glucose monitor and strips) and keep testing that in the morning.
Stevia is supposed to help keep blood sugars down, so you might be able to continue using it. Don't change that until you see some numbers.
The Low glycemic index is very good for understanding which fruits are less likely to make your blood sugar unstable. There are lots of sites, this is one list I found quickly. So I found I could half a banana with protein, but a whole banana was just too high.
My endicrinologist said to avoid cereal and fruit juices. Neither are good for anyone, even without diabetes. They are simple sugars and raise blood glucose levels too fast.
You will crave sugar, so to find ways to balance -- eat a treat right after dinner, to have the balance. Eat treats that contain fat, so ice cream is a better choice than cake or cookies, or chocolate better than a lollipop or gummy worms.  The fat keeps the blood glucose more stabilized. And keep the treat small.
Caffeine can also interfere, so keep that at a minimum.
If you can exercise, go walking after big meals.
You are doing great! This is really hard, because high blood sugar will require more frequent smaller meals, and the twins means eating more, too. Like Pilgrim said, you won't feel hungry. You have to forcefeed at times. It's a pain. So have foods on hand to grab. Those little Baby Bell cheeses, plain yogurt, leftover meats to just eat, salad fixings, hardboiled eggs, fruit, etc. to make it grab and go. Keep food with you at all times.
I've run out of time but I'll come back if I remember more.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 25 2013 at 11:41am | IP Logged
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meals with good flavor will be more satisfying without the sweets too. Now I like spicy foods so spicy Mexican foods.. or alfredo (with chicken and veggies and less pasta) that's a good creamy garlicy flavor. Or meats that have been seasoned nicely.
Oh and I would watch for prepared foods that are "diabetic", they often use artificial sweeteners and are low fat and other weird things.
Since I was in the hospital I had to ask my doctor to leave me officially on a regular diet rather than listed as diabetic diet. Because there was just no way to know what junk was in the foods.. on that diet I'd get margarine rather than butter and stuff that *I* wouldn't think but the ADA diet also gets into how much and which fats they think you should have.
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JennGM
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| Posted: June 19 2013 at 9:56am | IP Logged
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Syncletica, How are you doing?
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AmandaV
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| Posted: June 19 2013 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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I'm sorry I never came back to answer. I believe I was quite hungry, well, hungry enough to eat enough. I had to decide to eat healthy things, of course, because sometimes my cravings were not so healthy. I hope you are doing well with the pregnancy!
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Syncletica
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| Posted: June 19 2013 at 6:26pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for asking, Jennifer!
(And thank you for coming back to answer Amanda.)
Funny you chose today to ask.
Yesterday I had a non-stress test that went very well. We were talking about the possibility of inducing, and, well, that brought to crying my eyes out while in the hospital parking lot in fear of the pain that is to come. I probably sobbed for a good 15-20 minutes. :s
I'm doing better that way now, though.
But, overnight, and then again this afternoon, I've been having a few contractions. (I'll be 32 weeks on Friday.) Really hoping they are just Braxton Hicks and nothing to worry about. They are not painful in any way. (Asking for prayers that I don't go into labour yet!!)
I have company coming today for a few days, and really don't want to go into labour while he's here.
Other than that I'm doing okay.
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Pilgrim
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| Posted: June 19 2013 at 9:38pm | IP Logged
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Don't want to worry you, just caution to monitor contractions with twins, as often they were NOT painful even throughout labor, which is definitely unusual for me. Since your uterus is so stretched out with twins, you don't always feel the contractions as you would with singletons. Glad to hear all is well, the prayers continue daily for your precious double blessings and you!
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JodieLyn
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And with summer creeping up.. watch your hydration.. dehydration can contribute to contractions.
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Syncletica
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I met with the doctor for the first time today.
I don't think she liked me. She was nice at first then when she said 'bye' and turned to leave, she made a nasty face. I guess difficult people like myself don't make her day, lol.
So, here's what's happened:
She's urging me to have an epidural. Because sometimes after Baby A is born, Baby B is sprawled all over the place, so she has to manually go in and pull baby out. Did this happen to any of you mothers of twins who didn't have C-sections?
And then, if I don't get the epi and need an emergency C-section, I will need to be put to sleep. I was told by a friend that recovery is harder with being put to sleep than just an epi.
Doc said that risk of stillbirths go up past 38 weeks. Is this really true? I mean, years ago, women waited until they were in labour. I'm sure many times they didn't even know they were having multiples. I feel like it's going against what God wants. ??
So, she wants me to book an induction between weeks 37 and 38. She wants July 31. I had wanted Aug. 4 because of the pattern:
4th - twins;
1 week later: 4 year old;
1 week later: 9 year old;
1 week later: mine;
4 days later: Daddy and 2 year old.
7 out of 11 people in August! However, the 4th is a Sunday, and I think she's a M-F doc. I want them to have their own birthday: 29, 31, and 2nd are all used up by extended family members. So, I'm hoping she'll go for the 1st.
I've never had to be induced before, do you ever really get your say in?
And as for inductions -- how long can labours be???
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herdingkittens
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Your post makes me want to ....... 
I heard the SAME exact line about the epidural. Got bullied into it, actually. I was very upset about it and afterwards was informed that it is completely untrue that you would have to be put to sleep. I would look into this and bring proof with you if need be.
As far as the induction goes, they like to induce so they have more "control" over your birth. I would ask the doctor for the data on the stillbirth rates and find out for sure - I have never heard that. From everything I have read it is best to keep twins in as long as you can - not sure why doctors say that you should keep them in as long as possible and suggest the opposite.
I would also STRONGLY recommend finding another doctor. The fact that she is making nasty faces is scary. She is responsible for the wellbeing of you and your babies and she should be seriously listening to your concerns. I say the following not to scare you, but because I wish I had someone to warn me of this. I had a very similar situation and kept thinking I should switch doctors. I kept getting the same woman and when I said I did not want to be induced, she said she would "check me" and she ended up stripping my membranes without asking me and I had to be further induced. My boys were born at 36 weeks and had to stay in the NICU for 10 days and sent home on monitors and still had to learn how to breastfeed. I had a completely normal, heads down, healthy pregnancy.
I so wish things would change in the OB world in regards to twins. So many women are bullied and bombarded with scare tactics and it makes me super because having twins is challenging enough - we should be supported and taken care of, not manipulated. grrrr.
I will keep you covered in prayer - Come Holy Spirit!
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Pilgrim
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Our twins were my first and only induction AND epidural. I, like you, like to stay away from all that, and had always said " Never". But, alas, twins changed things a lot. I had a Nurse Midwife, and thus had to have a doctor added as part of the team closer to the birth, as well.
I elected for the epidural so that if I had to have the c-section I wouldn't have to be put under. My doctor explained that after Baby A is born and there is now a lot of lose room around Baby B, sometimes Baby B will flop down into a transverse lie, and if they can't manipulate baby into a head down position, they'd have to do a c-section. I don't know how true this is, or if it's one of those things they are trained to believe has a higher rate of happening than it really does.
I went into labor on my own. Doctors like to induce FAR too often. If you have no reason health-wise(truly) for you or babies to NEED to induce, I would be more firm on not inducing if you can. I went into labor on my own, but after laboring with not much progress all day, the doctor wanted me to try a small amount of pitocin to jump start things, as she was afraid I was going to get too tired to push both babies out, which honestly was a bit of a concern of mine, as well as the fact that my uterus was so stretched out I wasn't sure it was on it's own going to "push" very well, as the contractions weren't getting as strong as usual for me.
Looking back, I may have chosen things differently. I DO think that either the epidural or pitocin, or likely both had a bit of an effect on our twins in the early days, as they were very sleepy, and had troubles with latching on, and were the only 2 out of our children to have jaundice. And I had extreme swelling in my feet for a week or two after the birth. It's a very hard decision to make, as twin birth IS different than sigletons.
Will pray for you for wisdom!
Oh, and FWIW I went into labor at 37 1/2 weeks(it is rare for twin pregnancies to go to or past 40 weeks, so unless for health reasons there is really no reason to induce) on my own, and the babies were both good sized(6lb 2 oz., and 6 lbs. 4 oz.) and very healthy. Baby A only ended up in the NICU after coming home due to dehydration, as she had quite a spitup issue and was loosing too much fluid that way. Otherwise they were very healthy for twins.
Oh, and one last thing, the first impression of the doctor could be just a bad day sort of thing. I thought the same thing with the doctor I had to have with the twins, and I actually ended up liking her better than the midwife and switched over to her with the next pregnancy after the twins!
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CrunchyMom
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I'm not posting this to scare you, but since you voiced your concern, I thought I would share this recent study about the effects of oxytocin/pitocin on full-term babies. It is published on the ACOG site, so I would imagine it to be a "mainstream," peer reviewed study, though I have not looked into it beyond this summary.
To me, it just confirms my personal philosophy that all interventions have side-effects and should be used with care, not willy-nilly, but it seemed too coincidental that I would read have read it yesterday and have you ask the question today, so I felt the need to share it.
Personally, having never been in that situation, I'd push for the 5th. Still within the bounds of normal/low risk (is one day so significant to increase your risks?), but allowing a few extra days to go into labor naturally, which might help ease your mind regarding whether it was "necessary" to induce.
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Betsy
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Syncletica,
I have nothing to add to this converstion regarding twins...except that my Mom is a twin and my Grandma was completly shocked at birth! 
However, I did want to offer you support IF you decide to change doctors. I did so lllllaaaattteee into my third trimester.  It was the best decision I ever made. In every birth, especially with twins or high risk, you need to feel comfortable with what is going on and have a high level of trust. Follow your Mother instinct!!!!!
I will keep you in my prayers!!
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Syncletica
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| Posted: June 27 2013 at 12:02pm | IP Logged
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That's one of my concerns -- she is apparently one of the only docs who basically let's the midwives do their thing. I have split care, whatever you want to call it. So, I kind of hesitate to ask for a switch if the other docs take everything into their own hands. I will have to ask the midwives next time I see them.
Another concern of everyone involved is if I go into labour naturally, well, they don't deliver twins here in town -- I have to go to the city about an hour away. I had my 3rd baby in the car. And if I go to the chiro like I hope to in a few weeks , my understanding is that it makes for quick labours.
So many little things to consider.....
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Pilgrim
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Is it normal for you to go quickly with all births? Our second birth, our son was born 20 mins. after we got to the hospital while they were just getting things set up and had no idea I was so ready to deliver. BUT I had been laboring slowly off and on for 2 days, and they kept saying to wait to come in. Ever after that they made a big deal of me "making sure I get there on time", but each labor has been 12+ hours. It was just that it was my second birth, and it was very different from the first, where the stages were textbook.
Like Lindsey said, if you can help it, I'd avoid induction.
BUT, also like she said, follow your mother instinct!
Praying the Holy Spirit will guide you to what is the best for this birth, and that you will find what's best with the doctor/midwife situation.
It was funny, I thought I wasn't going to like that doctor because of a comment she had made when she was at the nurses station after that 20 min. birth I referred to, then after having her for the next birth with the twins I discovered I actually liked her, and she fit my personality well. I switched to her with the next baby, and that was the best birth I have ever experienced. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised how it all works out!
It is so hard how hospitals take twin births differently, and what one is used to : such as all natural no interventions, midwife, etc. can be changed on you! Do you have to birth in the OR? I know that was a requirement with our twins, but it turned out fine, actually. We have been blessed to have a very nice small town hospital to have our babies at up until now, and the people in the OR were great, they were so friendly and encouraging, and even were helping my husband(who gets faint when we're having our babies  ) out.
Again, praying, praying, praying all will work out well, and that you and ALL care providers will do what's best for you and the two precious babies you are carrying!
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Syncletica
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Well, my first was 18 hrs, 2nd was 1.5 hrs and born 4 min. after I arrived at the hospital; 3rd was actually 6 hours, but born in the car; 4th was 4 hrs; 5th was 2 hours, 6th was 4 hours, and the 7th was I think around 6 hours.
So, some are quite quick. We know to be on the run when we learn labour is underway, lol.
I just printed off that study Lindsay, thank you for letting me know about it.
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Syncletica
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I've been really struggling with this decision making, at times being driven to tears.
Finally decided it's time to do some research. Just found this:
The risk of stillbirth in twins increases slightly after 38 weeks. So if a mum hasn't already had twins by the time she is 38 weeks pregnant, a caesarean or induced labour is usually suggested. This is especially the case with identical twins, as sharing a placenta increases the risk of a baby being stillborn. That's why it's often recommended that twins are born by 37 weeks.
Looking like it's time for me to suck it up, buttercup. I really don't want to be induced. Everything is going so well. But, I don't want to risk losing a baby because of my desire, either. I suppose this is an opportunity for me to give up my will to that of others.
I don't know if they are identical or fraternal. They won't be able to tell me until they are born. The one ultrasound tech said that it looks like just one placenta, but there could be another one behind it.
There needs to be some element of surprise!
In any case, if they are identical, and the odds of stillbirth go up because of that, well,....I don't think I have much of an option anymore.
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