With a photo on his Instagram account and exciting and love-filled words addressed to his wife, Alice Campello, the Spanish Chelsea player Alvaro Morata announced the birth of his sons, Alessandro and Leonardo, on July 29 in Venice.
Although the player has only reported that the scheduled delivery was normal, and that both his children and his mother are well, it is understood by his words that his wife's pregnancy should not have been easy. We tell you what are the risks that twin pregnancies usually present.
Why is a multiple pregnancy considered risky?
Because of its peculiarities, it is advisable that these gestations take them in a high-risk obstetric unit, where ultrasounds, tests and visits to the obstetrician are more frequent. Although today, most of the gestations come to fruition without complications.
- Visits
In single pregnancies, four visits to the gynecologist are usually scheduled throughout the entire pregnancy, although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends duplicating them.
In a multiple pregnancy, the Quirón University Hospital comments that Gynecological follow-up during the first trimester does not differ from single pregnancy.
From week 16-18, the control in consultation is monthly if the babies develop in their own placenta and amniotic bag, and biweekly in the other types of multiple gestations.
The frequency of visits increases in the third trimester of pregnancy.
- Ultrasound
If in single pregnancies one per trimester is protocolized, in twins one is done every four weeks, or every two in the case where babies share placenta. Among other things they allow to see if the baby develops correctly or if it has any abnormality, measuring its nuchal fold.
The first ultrasound is essential to classify pregnancy according to the risk of complications, after checking the number of fetuses, if they are twins or twins, whether or not they share the placenta or amniotic sac ... The first ultrasound is essential to classify the pregnancy according to risk of complications, after checking the number of fetuses, if they are twins or twins, whether or not they share the placenta or amniotic sac ...
- Analytical
They are the same as in a single pregnancy (one per trimester). The only difference is that the third trimester is usually scheduled before weeks 35-37, when performed in a single pregnancy. The reason? The twin pregnancy should not be extended beyond week 38.
- Control tests
There is a higher risk of some pathologies such as gestational diabetes, anemia, intrauterine growth retardation of one of the two fetuses or diseases related to hypertension. This may cause more tests to track any of these problems.
- How many kilos can be gained?
According to Kids Health, of the American Nemours Foundation, future moms of twins or twins can gain more weight than those who only expect a baby. The difference will depend on the weight you have before pregnancy, although it will be the gynecologist who determines your ideal weight. On average, you can add about 300 extra calories to your diet per baby.
- More rest
As the pregnancy progresses, it is recommended that the future mother rest and lead a quiet life. It is a good idea (whenever possible) to take maternity leave from weeks 24-26 of gestation.
Twin pregnancies grow
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) of 2015, the number of multiple births in Spain accounts for 2.29% of the total, much higher than the world average, which is between 1 and 1.5%, according to the II European Report on Perinatal Health.
It is an interesting figure because the total number of births has been reduced, in the last five years, by almost 66,000 deliveries.
Among the causes of this increase in multiple births:
Mother's age According to the INE, in 2017 the average age stood at 32, 1 years, and is increasing every year. Between 30 and 35 years women are more likely to double ovulation.
The increase in assisted reproduction treatments. Medications given to improve fertility stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. Then, in assisted reproduction techniques, in which several embryos are transferred to the uterus, significantly increase the incidence of multiple pregnancy.
Photo @Alvaromorata
In Babies and More When you find out that you are pregnant ... and there are two !, Great joys and small disadvantages of having twins or twins
