Twin Pregnancy: When to Call the Doctor

When to Call the Doctor
There are many nuances to twin pregnancy and because every pregnancy is different, sometimes it is hard to determine what is normal and what may be a signal that something is wrong.
For nonemergency situations, prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor or midwife at your next appointment.  Many women find it helpful to talk to someone who has been through twin pregnancy before and can better relate to what you are feeling.  However, there are certain symptoms that need to be brought to the attention of your doctor or midwife immediately because they may indicate a serious underlying problem.  They include the following:

• Vaginal Bleeding
• Severe swelling in your face or in your hands
• Abdominal pain that is severe and does not go away
• Loss of vaginal fluid, which can be a gushing, trickle or continual wetness
• Lack of fetal movement or significant decrease in what you normally feel
• High fever which includes anything over 102
• Chills
• Vomiting that is so severe you cannot keep anything down for a prolonged period of time
• Blurred vision
• Severe headache that will not go away
• If you sustain a fall or injury that could be harmful to the babies

Never worry about being a burden or "annoying" to your doctor, midwife, or other healthcare provider.  Pregnancies with multiples are high risk.  Not only should you be comfortable in calling your doctor when a possible emergent situation arises, but it is also imperative that you have the trust in your doctor to follow the advice given, such as early bed-rest, as difficult as this can sometimes be.  Make sure you have a support team ready to help.