34 weeks pregnant with triplets

34 weeks pregnant with multiples

Delivery day is drawing nearer, and we know you’re more eager than ever to meet your little bundles of joy. Since multiples are most often born earlier than singletons, you’re likely in full-blown preparation mode, wondering if every cramp or twinge is the real deal.

You’re also probably attending weekly appointments, as your healthcare provider will want to pay extra close attention to ensure there aren’t complications with your babies.

Carrying multiples is no easy feat, but the finish line is closer than ever! Here’s what’s going on with your babies this week, as well as some tips for making this (often uncomfortable) time easier on you.

How are the babies?

Babies born at 34 weeks typically do well outside the womb and require minimal medical support. However, if your babies were born this week, they would most likely experience at least a short NICU stay.

If they’re ready to go, what’s holding them back from making their appearance? Well, their lungs, for starters. Each week, your babies’ lungs grow stronger, which makes it easier for them to breathe on their own once they’re born. The closer they get to their due date, the better their odds for not requiring breathing support. And, babies born at this stage are not any more likely to have long-term health issues than their full term peers.

Your babies weigh just shy of 5 lbs — though there is some variation in size at this stage!

How are you doing?

We’re sure your mind is racing as the reality sets in that your babies are truly about to make their big debut. The pains you’ve been feeling during pregnancy, like Braxton-Hicks contractions, probably have you questioning whether you’re actually in labor.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are your body’s way of preparing for labor and can be confusing since they tend to intensify as pregnancy progresses. If the contractions are particularly rhythmic or painful, you should contact your medical provider for advice on whether to be evaluated in person, as this may be a sign of actual labor.

Don’t feel bad about resting as needed; it’s encouraged! Sitting down with your feet elevated can help alleviate discomfort and swelling, so grab a book or watch a movie and unwind. You’ve earned it.

Let’s plan ahead!

You may already have packed your hospital bag, but if not, now is the time to get it done. This includes putting together any baby equipment you may need, purchasing or borrowing forgotten items, or installing car seats. Check out our hospital bag checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything. Labor can come at any time now, so get those last-minute tasks checked off.

It may be helpful to make a list of household chores or errands people can assist you with once your babies arrive. It’s never too soon to start delegating, so feel free to give your friends and family a call if you think you will need some help in the coming days, too!

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Sources

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Multifetal gestation: Twin, triplet, and higher order multifetal pregnancies.” National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Twin pregnancy: What multiples mean for mom.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, December 13 2014. Retrieved May 15 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/twin-pregnancy/art-20048161.
“FAQ: Multiple pregnancy.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, July 2015. Retrieved May 15 2021.

Symptoms, Fetal Development & Body Changes

You have finally entered the 34th week of your pregnancy, and you are expecting the arrival of your twins or multiples anytime soon. The thought of seeing your babies must be making you very anxious, but don’t panic. Take a few deep breaths and calm down. At every stage of pregnancy, there will be changes. Some of these changes will be predictable, while some, surprising. In this article, we shall discuss a few aspects you should be aware of if you are in the 34th week of pregnancy and are expecting twins/multiples. Read on to know more.

The Growth of Twin/Multiple Babies At 34 Weeks of Pregnancy

The growth of the babies inside your womb will be gauged with the help of ultrasound images. Your doctor will check for the development of the babies, and signs of birth defects if any. The chances of premature delivery are high at 34 weeks. Therefore, ensuring that your babies have put on the requisite amount of weight and are developing normally is highly essential.

Furthermore, the doctor will keep a constant check on the position of the babies inside the womb. An ideal position would make it fine for you to go ahead with normal delivery. However, if they are not in an ideal position, the doctor might suggest for caesarean (c-section) delivery.

At 34 weeks, there will be a considerable improvement in the babies’ senses. Although they cannot see, they can hear better. So, ensure you talk, sing or read to them. Sometimes babies would also kick. It is their way of responding to you or communicating with you.

However, the frequency of kicks might start dropping, or their intensity might reduce during this week. It mostly happens because of the increasing size of the babies and space constraint inside the womb. Expect kicks to reduce, but not stop altogether. Some mothers encourage them to move by gently rubbing their tummy.

What Is the Size of the Babies at 34 Weeks?

A nice ripe squash fruit is how big your twins or triplets will be inside your womb by now. Their fat amount keeps on increasing, which reflects in their weight as well. Most babies would tend to weigh close to 2 kilograms by now, which leads to difficulty in carrying them around. Their length is approximately 43-45 centimetres; hence they do not have much space in the uterus.

Symptoms/Changes at 34 Weeks of Pregnancy

As the babies grow and develop inside your womb, at 34 weeks, your body undergoes some more physical and mental changes. Let’s find them out.

By the time you complete 34 weeks of pregnancy, you’d have some ongoing symptoms and some new ones. At 34 weeks of pregnancy, your vision might start getting blurred. Quite frankly, there is no conclusive reasoning behind this symptom, but many women have mentioned that this condition does exist. The latter months of the pregnancy tend to make this condition stronger. Since your hormones are all over the place and various nerves are being numbed, this symptom does have a possibility of occurring.

Right from the initial stage of pregnancy, your feet may be bearing all the increasing weight of you and your twins or multiples in all its glory. Walking will get difficult because of the swelling, and you might find balancing difficult. You might also experience pain in your legs and your feet too.

You will be feeling more tired or exhausted as the pregnancy progresses. This is majorly due to the immense changes your body has been adapting to. You may even feel stressed just by the thought of taking care of your babies. However, your energy will return once you deliver the children.

Despite numerous suggestions, there will always be times when you fail to adhere to a proper diet or stick to a meal plan that is good for you. The increasing weight of your babies would add pressure on your intestines and lead to constipation and re-emergence of haemorrhoids. To combat these symptoms, increase your fluid and fibre intake.
The 34th week of pregnancy can inevitably make most women feel like taking in a new breath of life, quite literally. At 34 weeks, your twins or triplets may descend lower towards the pelvis. The moment babies have their heads turned towards your canal, the upper portion of the uterus reduces in size. This reduction instantly makes way for the lungs and the diaphragm to take up that space, causing them to return closer to their normal state. And as a result, your breathing would improve and can be a welcome change for many.
As you approach your due date, you might experience Braxton Hicks contractions, which is a common symptom at 34 weeks. The contractions can come out of nowhere and cause unnecessary panic.

Twin/Multiple Pregnancy – Belly at 34 Weeks

The weight of the twins/multiples at 34 weeks of pregnancy will be extremely evident, given the fact that your belly will have a highly rounded and expanded shape in the region below your navel. Because your babies move in the womb, and by the 34th week, they have grown in in size, you could also experience acidity frequently.

Twin/Multiple Pregnancy – Ultrasound at 34 Weeks

An ultrasound is conducted to check the health of the babies and ensure safe delivery. With the help of ultrasound images, your gynaecologist would take several decisions regarding the birthing process. Numerous tests would be conducted, with advanced ultrasounds, to observe your twins or multiples closely and confirm their development.

34 Weeks Pregnant With Twins/Multiples – What to Eat

Your meal plan should continue just as it is going on, with a good focus on fibrous foods AND HIGH PROTEIN DIET. In case your weight gain is beyond the healthy level, your doctor or your dietician may make specific alterations in your diet to help you control your weight quickly. This needs to be done while keeping the nutritive requirements of your babies in mind.

34 Weeks Pregnancy Care Tips

With your pregnancy term coming close to completion, some quick tips can make the entire period easier for you.

Dos

Try and get the registration done to preserve baby’s stem cells.
Make a contingency plan to handle your delivery if any unforeseen consequences arise.
Refer books on delivering twins/multiples if you haven’t been able to read any.
Avoid stress and meditate.

Dont’s

Avoid drinking coffee or tea along with your meals since they interfere with iron absorption.
Don’t wear clothes that make it difficult for you to move around.

Things You Need To Shop For in the 34th Week of Pregnancy

By week 34, you must have already bought most of the things you’ll need after the babies are born. Here’s a list of some items that are missed by many mothers-to-be:

A nice maternity gown.
Breast pump to store your first milk.
Nursing Bra.
Diapers – lots and lots of them for your twins/multiples.
Sets of baby clothing.
Baby tissues – you’re gonna need a lot of these too.

Although each mother-to-be would have a different experience, at 34 weeks of the pregnancy, everyone would focus on the development and health of the babies. Eat well, rest enough and try to cheerful for the arrival of your little ones.

Previous Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 33

Next Week: Twin Pregnancy Week 35

Priceless victories in the struggle for life - Ekaterina Bulatova

Ekaterina Bulatova, June 26, 2018, 14:53 — REGNUM In the days of the World Cup matches in Russia, people talk about sports victories every now and then. But law enforcement officers and employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, who have more work, mark every day of the World Cup as a victory, preventing incidents in patrol areas. Don doctors have a “hot” time and did not recede - specialists every day, around the clock, are fighting for their lives.

On the day of discharge

From the personal archive of Irina Bushtyreva

Today, June 26, on the day of the match between the national teams of Iceland and Croatia, which will be held at the Rostov-Arena, triplets were discharged from the Rostov Regional Perinatal Center, to which during the World Cup 2018 was given special attention. The second triplets this year were born on May 27. Mother of three girls Karina Prokofieva believes that the date of her daughter was not chosen by chance. The twins were born on a bright holiday - the Day of the Holy Trinity.

“Initially, the pregnancy was unexpected for me. But the big surprise was the news of the triplets. During my first visit to the ultrasound doctor, one fetus was confirmed. When I came back, I was told that I was expecting twins. For me it was a shock. And when I visited the ultrasound room for the third time, they told me that I would have triplets. And I did not resort to the IVF procedure. For the fourth time, I was already very afraid to go for an ultrasound scan, ”recalls the mother of many children with a laugh.

Triplets were born on May 27

From the personal archive of Irina Bushtyreva

Pregnancy with triplets cannot proceed without complications, but thanks to the observance of all the recommendations of specialists, everything went well for Karina - a young girl carried monochorionic twins (this is one of the rarest cases when children share the same placenta). The babies were born at 34 weeks, which is considered an excellent result.

“We named the older girl Praskovya , I call her Pashenka. She was born weighing 1780 grams. Our second girl is Alice , it seems to me that she is the most cunning, so I call her Little Fox. By the way, she was born with the smallest weight - 1350 grams, but has already caught up with her sisters. And the third girl we have is Alexandra , who was born weighing 1650 grams, ”the interlocutor of shared with REGNUM .

Experts note that the sooner the expectant mother turns to the doctors, the better the outcome for pregnant women. It is important to follow all the recommendations of experts.

“Triplets are always a challenge for perinatal medicine. Prior to the creation of perinatal centers, multiple pregnancies were interrupted, often it was not possible to save already born babies. Thanks to modern technologies, we can maximize the intrauterine development of children and minimize the time they spend in intensive care. Perinatal centers were created in order to help a woman with multiple and other difficult pregnancies bear a child for as long as possible, because one day of intrauterine life is equal to one week in intensive care, ”emphasized professor, doctor of medical sciences, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category regional perinatal center Irina Bushtyreva.

U Olga F . during the second pregnancy, difficulties began, starting from the 23rd week. According to her, heavy bleeding did not stop, doctors from various medical institutions doubted a positive outcome, there was little hope. And only after the team of specialists of the perinatal center entered into the struggle for life, there was faith in a positive outcome. So, every week, doctors saved the life of a baby in the womb.

“And so we slowly reached almost 33 weeks. On June 11, we had a boy weighing 2300 grams. Now specialists are working with him. I am grateful that I kept the pregnancy. Now the baby is already gaining weight. Without the specialists of the perinatal center, everything would have ended at the 23rd week. The first pregnancy was more prosperous - I was operated on at 35 weeks. Then she gave birth to a healthy boy Svyatoslav . We named the youngest Vladimir ,” shared Olga.

According to professor, doctor of medical sciences, obstetrician-gynecologist of the highest category of the regional perinatal center Irina Bushtyreva, specialists have caught the perinatal moment of truth.

“This is the case when yesterday was early and tomorrow could be late. If the operation had been delayed by a day, we could have lost the child. And it is important that the baby is healthy, nothing threatens his life. We achieved the result, but it was very difficult, ”the specialist noted.

The second pregnancy of the miraculously survived Svetlana Chubovskaya proceeded well until the woman neglected the advice of doctors. At 31 weeks, Svetlana was admitted to the perinatal center with pain in the lower abdomen.

“During the first pregnancy, my wife was diagnosed with the Leydon mutation — this is a hereditary pathology associated with a violation of the blood coagulation system. By the way, this pathology is inherent only to royal persons. The first birth took place safely here, in the perinatal center, in 2015. We have a completely healthy boy Anton . He is almost three years old. When the second pregnancy came, we were immediately sent back to the perinatal center. The fact is that the peculiarity of the Leydon mutation is that subsequent pregnancies are more difficult than previous ones. This feature is extremely rare. And we were warned that you can get to the maternity hospital at any time due to complications. And so it happened,” recalls the husband of Andrey Chubovsky .

Ultrasound showed that the woman had a placental abruption. Svetlana was promptly taken to the operating room and performed a caesarean section. The girl Polina was born weighing 1800 grams. Her health was not in danger.

“After my wife was transferred to the ward, she began to develop DIC, a severe disseminated intravascular coagulation. I immediately understood what it was. I worked for 17 years at BSMP-2. We had about 20 cases of DIC, not a single person survived. The survival rate for this diagnosis is zero. A car arrived from the blood transfusion station, and they began to reinfuse her - they poured eight liters of blood. The bleeding was stopped only at night. The loss of circulating blood volume was 175%, that is, the wife lost all her blood twice, ”Andrey shared.

Irina Bushtyreva, commenting on this case, called the specialists who accomplished the feat, saving a woman from critical blood loss, heroes.

“We have been preparing for the birth of our first child from the moment we were preparing for pregnancy. We went to this, realizing that Svetlana has the rarest heredity, the development of which threatens with sudden death. But in anticipation of a second child, the parents hoped for a chance. But we were still ready for extreme situations, the best specialists from various medical institutions were called. And the whole team managed to save the patient, whose life indicators reached critical values. Her husband and I were on the phone. I remember that he repeated like a mantra: “If only she survived!” - Now the professor recalls with relief.

And not only Svetlana survived, but also the girl Polina.

Note that for eight years of work in the perinatal center of the Don region, 44 triplets and 1609 twins were born.

Life cubed: what is it like to give birth to triplets or grow up in triplets?

It is impossible for a mother of triplets to walk unnoticed. However, behind the outward cuteness of the triplets are difficulties, worries and risks. In this material, we will tell the story of a mother of triplets, the story of a child who grew up in triplets, and also find out the opinion of a candidate of biological sciences and a geneticist about multiple pregnancy.

According to the latest available data, the frequency of triplets in the Republic of Kazakhstan is 1 in 9086 births. These numbers are very similar to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's data that triplets occur in about one in 10,000 pregnancies. Today, with the introduction of reproductive technologies, the chance of multiple pregnancy is increasing. So, with in vitro fertilization (or IVF), several embryos are planted in the uterus. More often, only one of them takes root, but several can survive. Then a supermultiple pregnancy can develop, when four or more children are born at once.

“In general, multiple pregnancy can occur as a result of two mechanisms. In the first, two or more eggs are fertilized at once. Then fraternal, or, scientifically, heterozygous, twins are born. In the second mechanism, the fertilized egg divides into two or more parts shortly after fertilization. Each part develops into a fruit. In this case, identical, or homozygous, twins are born, - explains Anastasia Perfilyeva, candidate of biological sciences, leading researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Physiology of the CS MES RK. “Now I will explain how triplets are formed. Here, too, two paths can be described. At the first, three eggs are fertilized at once, as a result of which trizygotic twins are born. Or triplets develop from two eggs. In this case, after fertilization, one egg splits, and the second remains in its original state. From the first egg, an identical pair of twins develops, from the second, a third child.

Now let's move on to the emotional part of the material. Akbota Andasbayeva, mother of triplets, shared her story with pleasure:

“When the ultrasound specialist, smiling broadly, told me that I had triplets, I lay on the couch with a swarm of thoughts in my head: “How to bear three children at once, what will be their health, will my body survive, given that I am short and weighing less than 50 kg. I was in shock, I couldn't say anything. She didn’t tell her husband right away, but when, after the examination, we calmly sat down to talk over a cup of coffee. I told him the news and showed him the ultrasound scans. He is a low-emotional person, so his reaction was quite calm, he just joked: “Well, what can I say, I’m done!” His mother reacted with tears in her eyes, hugged me and cried with happiness. My mother immediately began to worry, because first of all she was afraid for me. She spent my entire pregnancy stressed.

By the way, the pregnancy was going well, apart from terrible toxicosis. After the 20th week, I could no longer walk much, I was constantly lying, since three children is a huge burden on the spine. The stomach began to grow rapidly, and it was a big surprise for me to switch from size XS to men's t-shirts in size 54.

According to the protocol, pregnant triplets after 34 weeks are sent for a planned caesarean. So on my 26th birthday, I went to the hospital. The operation took place under general anesthesia, and when I came to my senses, the first thing I asked was: “Is everyone alive?” The midwife came in and said that everything was fine, all three began to breathe on their own, the lungs opened. This is exactly what I wanted to hear! Two girls are in intensive care and one is in the neonatal pathology department. I was in another room and went to visit them, bottle feed them, change diapers. At the maternity hospital, the nurses showed me everything, explained how to care for premature babies. According to the rules, we had to lie in the maternity hospital for a month, but after two weeks we were allowed to go home.

I never felt like I couldn't do it. I knew right away that I could do anything. Yes, there were sleepless nights. Every three hours it was necessary to feed the babies, each ate for an hour and a half, then I could sleep for an hour and a half and feed again. Once, in a conversation with a friend, I even considered: it was necessary to wash the children at least 15 times a day, wash the bottles 18 times and sterilize them, in addition, change clothes / play / feed - so my whole day passed. It’s good that my husband, my grandmother after work, my sister and a house helper helped me, who made my life easier while I was taking care of the children.

Everyone said “When they grow up, it will become easier”, but I realized that the older the children, the more difficult it is mentally

Now it's not enough just to bottle feed, now we meet with their characters, whims. And to calm the three, to pay attention to everyone - it's not easy. I think every mom is a hero! We recently celebrated the second birthday of our triplets.

Have I been depressed or burned out? I do not remember that I cried in hysterics from fatigue. I “agreed” with the higher forces and with myself that if they are born alive and healthy, then I will not complain and whine. But it's too early to draw conclusions, now our fourth daughter has been born, who is already two months old. And maybe postpartum depression is yet to come. However, I am a fairly positive person, I find bright moments in everything.

My girls were born from two placentas: Alima and Amina are twins, and Khadisha was in a different placenta, she differs from her sisters in appearance, in hair structure, clothing size and temperament. I think Alima and Amina will have fun due to the similarity, as my sister and I did. After all, I am from twins, my twin sister has always helped me. At school, the teachers, of course, confused us. When we entered universities, we helped each other out as best we could. I’ll tell you a secret that my sister took several exams for me at the session, and I spent the night for her in the hostel. Sometimes they confused the guards and went out in turn. And sometimes strangers came up to me and greeted me. I didn’t have time to explain that I was a sister.”

In this material there is a story of the same loving triplets sister. Camila told about her relationship with her twin brothers and that she is an unexpected miracle for her parents, since only two boys could be detected on ultrasound:

“Mom gave birth to us naturally in the seventh month. On ultrasound, my mother was told that she was pregnant with twins. In the end, I was the eldest, five minutes later my brother was born, and ten minutes later another. We lived and grew up like ordinary children. Dad was given 12 square meters in a hostel from work, where our childhood passed.

When we were born, we were filmed on television and written about in newspapers.