Is it safe to exercise if I am carrying twins?
It is safe to exercise if you're expecting twins, but there are a few things to bear in mind. You will obviously increase in size faster than someone who is only expecting one baby, which will make some forms of exercise uncomfortable earlier on in your pregnancy. Most experts recommend that you should not undertake any vigorous or aerobic exercise after 28 weeks. (SOGC 2003) The last three months of a twin pregnancy are especially tiring, and around half of twins are born before 37 weeks. (HFEA 2006)
If you wish to carry on exercising after 28 weeks, discuss it first with your doctor or midwife.
What type of exercise is best for a twin pregnancy?
Swimming, yoga and Pilates are all ideal forms of exercise. Pelvic floor exercises are also important in any pregnancy, so don't forget to do these. As long as you find it comfortable, and providing you are not suffering from pelvic or back pain, walking is another good form of exercise during pregnancy.Ideal forms of exercise when expecting twins
Swimming and aqua-natal classes
Swimming will feel more comfortable than land-based exercise, as the buoyancy of the water helps to support the extra weight you are carrying. The water supports your joints and ligaments as you exercise, preventing injury, and can protect you from overheating. Swimming can also help with swelling and the discomfort caused by varicose veins, a common side-effect of a twin pregnancy.
If you suffer from backache or pelvic pain, talk to your midwife or a physiotherapist before you start swimming. You may find that breaststroke is uncomfortable, and she will be able to advise you of alternative strokes or exercises in the water.
Aqua-natal classes are becoming increasingly popular in many areas and are usually run by midwives. Ask your midwife for details of classes near to where you live.
Yoga
Yoga can be useful if you are carrying twins as it is a gentle way of maintaining fitness. It can also help with flexibility and muscle toning. Avoid upside-down poses while you are pregnant and any movements which require you to lie flat on your back. This decreases blood flow to the uterus (womb). Never force or strain during any pose or stretch, especially during movements that stretch the tummy muscles. If you experience back or pelvic pain, you may have to modify some of your postures. After 28 weeks, some of the poses may prove difficult. Check that your doctor and yoga teacher are happy for you to carry on with your classes after this point.
Pilates
Pilates is an ideal form of exercise for a twin pregnancy because it targets the tummy and pelvic floor muscles, which are placed under a lot of strain when you are carrying more than one baby. Many Pilates exercises are performed on a "hands and knees" position, and this is a good position to exercise in, as it helps to take a lot of stress off your back and pelvis and may help to position your babies ready for birth.
Before trying Pilates, make sure that you can perform a strong pelvic floor contraction by squeezing in your pelvic floor muscles and holding it for at least 10 seconds. If you can't maintain a "stable core" by tightening your pelvic floor and lower tummy muscles then you may overstress your joints, ligaments and pelvic floor.
Certain positions, especially those lying on your tummy or back are not appropriate for you. If you can, find a Pilates class specifically designed for pregnant women, or make sure that your Pilates instructor is qualified to teach pregnant women and is aware that you are expecting twins.
Pelvic floor exercises
Because of the extra weight you are carrying and because you have more pregnancy hormones in your system, you may find that you begin to leak urine
when you cough or sneeze. Exercising your pelvic floor muscles regularly should help to prevent or treat this problem, and if it doesn't, ask your midwife or doctor to refer you to a physiotherapist.
How much should I push myself when exercising while carrying twins?
In general, you shouldn't go for the burn, push yourself or exercise to exhaustion when you are carrying twins. Exercise at a comfortable level to be safe. You should be able to have a comfortable conversation with someone while you are exercising. Some women like to monitor their heart rate while exercising. However, don't rely on this as heart rates in pregnancy can vary widely. It is safer to be guided by how you are feeling. (Artal & O'Toole 2003)
Are there any signs that I am overdoing things or should stop exercising?
Stop exercising and seek medical advice if you have any of the following symptoms
• vaginal bleeding
• blurred vision
• nausea
• dizziness
• fainting
• breathlessness
• heart palpitations
• increased swelling in your hands, feet and ankles
• sharp pain in your abdomen or chest
• leaking of amniotic fluid
• you feel unwell
(Artal and O'Toole 2003).
as a result of exercising:
Are there any reasons why I should not exercise when carrying twins?
Always talk to your GP or obstetrician before exercising if: • you are more than 27 weeks pregnant • you are anaemic or feel very weak and tired • you have a chest problem i.e. bronchitis or asthma • you have experienced bleeding during your pregnancy • you have previously had a premature baby • you have shown any signs of premature labour during this pregnancy • you have cervical weakness • you have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia) • you have low or high blood pressure • you have any medical conditions i.e. heart problems, diabetes, epilepsy or thyroid disease • you have been told that your babies are small for their dates or are not growing properly (fetal growth restriction) • you are very underweight or overweight • you have never exercised before or want to increase your exercise level significantly
Finding out that you're pregnant with twins is often a shock. But there are lots of reasons to be excited about bringing two babies into the world at the same time. Here are just some of them.
1.
Knowing that you are only going to have to go through the birth process once to end up with two children.2.
Enjoying the fun of choosing two baby names that fit together perfectly.3.
Being able to hold one baby in each arm and feeling a huge rush of love and pride.4.
Watching your babies sleeping peacefully side by side.5.
Having to establish only one routine.6.
Getting all the sleepless nights over and done with in one go.7.
Watching them carve out their own identities as they grow.8.
Knowing that they are going to have a best friend in each other for life.9.
Enjoying the attention that twins inevitably attract.10.
Feeling confident that they can help each other on their first day of school.11.
Discovering all their amazing little differences.12.
Watching them create their own secret language and games.13.
Knowing that they will never be lonely.14.
Loving the fact that they are constant playmates and can entertain each other.15.
Feeling special because you've joined the exclusive club of twin mums – together with the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Julia Roberts.16.
Only having to buy one of every must-have toy and not having to give baby number two (by a few minutes!) hand-me-downs.17.
Only having to bake one birthday cake and throw one party a year.18.
Seeing them learning and encouraging each other to reach their milestones.19.
Watching them taking care of each other when one is upset or hurt.20.
Knowing that their shared history means they have one of life's most unbreakable bonds. Are you a mum of twins?Why not add your favourite thing about it by writing in the Comment box below?
Commuting during pregnancy isn't always easy. Here are a few suggestions to make the trip more bearable.
Mary Anna Clemons remembers being in the far left lane of the highway when the urge came to use the bathroom. At eight months pregnant, Clemons was used to frequent potty breaks along her 40-mile trek from her rural home to her job in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When she finally made it to a gas station restroom, the door was locked. In panic, Clemons went to the front of a line of customers and demanded the key from a surprised gas station attendant.
No doubt other pregnant commuters can identify with Clemons' woes. And for many, commutes are getting longer. According to the Transportation Research Board, from 1990 to 2000, the number of workers with commutes lasting more than 60 minutes grew by almost 50 percent. If you're commuting while pregnant, you need to take extra precautions to keep yourself—and your baby—healthy and comfortable.
DON'T: Wear constrictive clothing or high heels.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, MD, an OB-GYN in private practice in Englewood, New Jersey, gives another reason to forego heels: "During your pregnancy you have a different center of gravity. You're more prone to slip or trip going down stairs." Her solution? Wear sneakers. 
If you're running to catch a bus or train (or even sitting in a car), you need food to keep you going and alert. Bellinson recommends a balanced breakfast with a glass of milk, toast, and fruit. If you can't sit for a meal, opt instead for quick, healthy snacks such as a granola bar or fruit. Once you get to the office, make sure to eat something more.
Drinking Water
DON'T: Drink too much water or other liquids before your commute.
Instead of drinking a full glass of water at the beginning of the day, Bellinson advises commuters to drink a small amount before work and then to bring a water bottle.
DON'T: Ignore nausea symptoms.
DON'T: Lock your legs or stay in the same position for your entire commute.
To alleviate blood-flow problems, make sure to move around as much as possible. If you're stuck in traffic try wiggling your toes, moving your feet, or stretching your calf muscles to get your blood circulating. Bellinson also recommends maternity support stockings to help maintain adequate blood flow. 
Whether you're traveling abroad while pregnant for business or pleasure, you should take steps to ensure your health and that of your unborn baby—before you ever set foot on the plane.
In fact many airlines won't let you fly past 36 weeks, says Dr. Bob Wheeler, MD, an emergency medicine specialist, a cruise ship medical consultant, and the medical director for On Call International, a company that provides medical insurance for over seven million travelers. "After all, you don't want to be having a baby at 45,000 feet."
That's not to say you should avoid fresh fruits and veggies altogether. Opt for peelable fruits, like oranges or mangoes, says Dr. Olds, and avoid fruits with high water content like watermelon.
Tom Kime, chef and author of Street Foods: Exploring the World's Most Authentic Tastes, has visited—and eaten—food in developing countries around the world. He says travelers often make mistakes about food choices because they go for something familiar instead of the local fare.
"You're much more likely to get sick from the hotel's all-day buffet, which has been sitting out in the air conditioning gathering bacteria, than the food on the street, which is cooked right in front of you," offers Kime.
But there are local foods to be wary of. Watch out for unpasteurized cheeses, meats and fish that may not be prepared fresh (or may have a high level or mercury or pesticides), and dishes with undercooked eggs (steer clear of soft-boiled eggs) or meats (sorry, no steak tartar!).
"Most people make common mistakes," says Dr. Olds. For example, drinking bottled water, but then using local ice or brushing their teeth with local water. He points out that even if you're on a luxurious cruise ship and your boat is docking in developing countries, chances are it's taking on local water.
But don't avoid drinking water—staying hydrated during pregnancy is important. Instead, buy it bottled—as often as you can.
You may also consider bringing along a copy of your basic pregnancy records, advises Dr. Horsager-Boehrer. "If something should happen and you need medical care, a copy of the prenatal record with your lab and sonogram results makes it much easier for a physician to understand how the pregnancy has progressed thus far."
Avoid purchasing medications in another country, where pharmacies may offer over-the-counter medications that are prescription-only in the US. Pack your own obstetrician-approved survival kit, including medications to treat common travel complaints, such as "an antacid for indigestion, Tylenol for aches and pains, Claritin or Benadryl for allergies, Sudafed or its generic for cold symptoms," says Dr. Horsager-Boehrer.
Before you travel, call you healthcare provider to make sure you know about your coverage. "You can get sick whether you're walking down the beach in Jamaica or sitting in your living room," says Dr. Wheeler. "A common complaint in pregnancy is spontaneous bleeding or spotting, which can happen anywhere."
P R E P A R A T I O N
Find a warm, flat surface to lay your baby on — a blanket on a carpeted floor is fine. Pour a little baby oil or pure vegetable oil in your palms and rub your hands together to warm them and the oil. Try to look into your baby's eyes, and sing or talk to him as you do the massage. And pay attention to your baby's response: If he doesn't seem to be enjoying himself, try a lighter touch, or simply stop.
1.
While facing your baby, use two or three fingers to trace the letter "I" on the right side of his abdomen with firm but gentle movements. Start under his ribs and go straight down to his hip joint, using the oil to smooth your way.2.
Next, stroke from left to right across your baby's abdomen, forming the long side of a sideways "L."3.
Use a short downward stroke on the right side of his stomach to complete the "L."4.
To begin the last letter, the upside-down "U," stroke up from your baby's hipbone, on the left side of his tummy.5.
For the middle segment of the "U," move your fingers along the top of your baby's tummy.6.
And for the final part of the "U," stroke down your baby's right side 
Why newborns look so funny ?
Few newborns look like beauty contest winners, which isn't surprising when you consider what they've been through. But is it really normal for their heads to be so pointy and their genitals so swollen? Here's the top-to-toe scoop on why newborns look so, well, strange.
Head
If you gave birth vaginally, you may take a look at your baby's head and think, "No wonder!" It's big compared to the rest of your baby's body!Your baby's head may also look a little misshapen or kind of pointy. This is called molding, and it happens as babies squeeze through the birth canal. Your baby's head should return to its original shape in about a week.C-section babies don't come through the birth canal, so they have an edge in the looks department. Their heads come out nice and round because they don't get squeezed.The soft spots on your baby's head, called fontanels, are diamond-shaped openings in the skull covered by a thick layer of skin. These openings — one in front and one in back — allowed the bones of your baby's skull to compress during his trip through the birth canal, and now they'll allow for the quick growth of his brain.The rear fontanel will take about four months to close. The front one will take between nine and 18 months.
Arms and legs
After spending so much time curled up in the tight space of your uterus, your baby needs time to adjust to his new freedom and stretch out a bit. His arms and legs will uncurl within a week or two. When he does begin to stretch out, he'll probably appear a bit bowlegged.Some babies find swaddling — being wrapped snugly in a blanket — to be comforting because it mimics the tighter quarters of the womb.
Belly
Your baby might lose a little weight in his first week, but he should regain it during the second week and continue to put on the ounces and pounds at a fast clip in the following months, quickly filling out his belly.After ten to 14 days, your baby's umbilical cord stump will fall off, leaving an adorable little belly button.
Genitals
Your newborn's genitals and breasts (whether you have a boy or a girl) may be swollen from the extra dose of hormones just before birth. A little milky substance may leak from your baby's nipples as well. Girls may also have a little white discharge or blood-tinged vaginal mucus. All of this will go away in the first few weeks.
Skin
Newborn skin varies in appearance according to how far along your baby is at birth. Premature babies have thin, almost transparent skin that may be covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo. You'll also see vernix, a cheesy white substance that protects a baby's delicate skin from the amniotic fluid. The farther along your pregnancy is when you deliver, the less lanugo and vernix your baby will have.Babies of all races and ethnicities are born with reddish-purple skin that changes to pinkish-red within a day or so. The pink tint comes from the red blood vessels that are visible through your baby's still-thin skin. Because your baby's blood circulation is still maturing, his hands and feet may be bluish for a few days. Over the next six months, your baby's skin will develop its permanent color.If your baby's skin takes on a yellowish tinge in the first few days of life, he may have a slight case of jaundice. More than half of healthy newborns show signs of jaundice, which happens as the body breaks down extra red blood cells.Jaundice usually goes away within a week for full-term babies, but often hangs around slightly longer in preemies.
It's usually nothing to worry about, but you should mention it to your healthcare provider.About 30 to 40 percent of all babies are born with milia, small white or yellow dots on their face that look like tiny pimples. They usually disappear within three or four weeks without any special treatment.If your baby has small pus-filled bumps that leave dark brown marks when they burst, it's probably pustular melanosis, a newborn rash more common in African American babies.
There's no need to treat this condition. The marks will disappear by the time your baby is 3 or 4 months old.Acne isn't unusual in new babies, either. About a fifth of newborns have a case of acne during their first month. Newborn acne is most likely to show up on the forehead and cheeks. It should disappear on its own within a few months.Birthmarks — including Mongolian spots, angel kisses, and stork bites — are also common. They come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors and can show up anywhere on a baby's body. Certain types of birthmarks may not appear for several days or weeks after birth.Most birthmarks are harmless. Many go away on their own in the first few years of life, although some are permanent.
Hair
Be prepared for some surprises when it comes to your baby's hair. Dark-haired Caucasian couples have been thrown for a loop by children born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples have been presented with Elvis Presley look-alikes. And then there are the parents who wonder what color that peach fuzz is, exactly.That said, newborn hair doesn't tend to have much bearing on what your child's hair will eventually look like. Even if your baby was born with a full head of hair, he may begin to lose some or all of it in the first few weeks or months.Don't worry — the hair will come back, although it may not look the same when it does. Babies born carrot tops can turn into blonds, raven-haired newborns can sprout fair tresses, and blonds often turn into brunettes.Hair texture frequently changes in the first six months, too. You may find coarser, tighter ringlets growing in place of your baby's loose, fine curls, for example.
Eyes
Most Caucasian babies, though certainly not all, are born with dark gray-blue eyes that can take months — even years — to reveal their permanent color. Many African American, Asian, and Hispanic babies are born with dark gray-brown eyes that don't change color significantly, but some may start out with hazel eyes that get darker as they approach 6 months.Most often, the eye color you see at 6 to 9 months will be the one that sticks around.EarsYour baby's ears may be soft and floppy, and one of the edges may be bent over a bit. As the cartilage in your baby's ears becomes harder, his ears will become more defined.
Nose
Your baby's nose may look swollen from the pressure on it during delivery. It may also be a little flattened or even off-kilter. (He'll look less like a prizefighter in just a few days.)
The lowdown on baby bathtubs
Rub-a-dub-dub — ready for the tub? Maybe not. Until your baby can sit up on his own, usually at around six months, bathing him in an adult-sized tub can be more trouble than it's worth. Many parents love to get right in the tub and bathe with their babies, but that can be dangerous, too — your baby could bonk his head on a hard surface or even drown if he slips out of your grasp. If you try to bathe him without getting in the tub, your back won't appreciate all the leaning over.You may find it easier to keep your baby clean by bathing him in an infant bathtub, designed to make washing a wee body safe and fun. In addition to saving your back (baby tubs are designed for use in kitchen and other big sinks), baby bathtubs make it easier for you to handle a slippery, squirming infant by holding him safely in place.
What to look for when buying
You have a lot of choices these days: hard plastic tubs, foldable tubs, even inflatable tubs. Many tubs are contoured for comfort. Some are lined with a soft sponge interior.There are many models to choose from, but this is one baby product decision you don't have to lose sleep over. If it holds water, you're in business. Of course, that hasn't prevented manufacturers from coming up with a multitude of designs and value-added features. Here are some points to consider:
• Look for thick plastic that won't buckle from your baby's weight or the weight of the water.
• Foldable tubs are more convenient for storing and carrying, while non-foldable types may be a bit more solid and sturdy.
• An infant-to-toddler tub may serve you longer, because it has adjustable features to accommodate a growing baby.
• A plug at the base of the tub makes for easy draining.
• Make sure it doesn't have any rough edges that can chafe delicate baby skin.
What it's going to cost you Most baby bathtubs cost between $15 and $30.
