Course and risks of multiple pregnancy

Instead of giving birth to just one baby, you will soon be holding three little babies in your arms. That means triple happiness, but also triple stress. Pregnancy with triplets is already special, and everyday life with the sweet offspring will certainly challenge you after the birth. How to breastfeed three babies Can I get on the train with a triple stroller? Where can you get financial help? But don’t worry, here you will find a lot of information about multiple pregnancy.

How triplets are formed

Triplets are formed in the same way as twins . A distinction must be made between identical (monozygotic) and non-identical (dizygotic) twins. Identical twins have developed from the same fertilized egg. They have the same genetic makeup and look very similar. Fraternal twins are formed when two eggs that mature at about the same time are fertilized by two different sperm. These children are like normal siblings, they do not share the same genetic make-up and therefore look different. In the case of triplets, combinations of monozygotic and dizygotic children are possible.

The probability of having triplets is calculated using Hellin’s rule. According to the health portal med.de , this means that there is one triplet birth for every 7,000 births. However, the probability of a multiple pregnancy with dizygotic multiples has increased noticeably due to the possibilities of artificial insemination . The reason for this are the hormone treatments that are supposed to stimulate fertility. In addition, during in vitro fertilization ,  several embryos are implanted in the uterus. But the age of the women also plays a major role, the older she is, the higher the probability of a natural multiple pregnancy.

Pregnant with triplets

Your doctor will already be able to determine that you are pregnant with triplets during your first ultrasound scan. Having triplets is a special situation for you, but also for your obstetricians and doctors. Since there is an increased risk of premature birth , high blood pressure during pregnancy  or a  miscarriage , your pregnancy is classified as a  high- risk pregnancyclassified. In fact, multiple pregnancies are significantly higher than the ultimate number of multiple births. But that doesn’t have to worry you, because your doctor will provide you with intensive medical care. To make sure that you and your babies are doing well, you will have more check-ups during your pregnancy than people who are pregnant with just one baby. Every two weeks up to the 28th week of pregnancy, after that there is a weekly examination including CTG and ultrasound examination.

During pregnancy you can expect the usual pregnancy symptoms, but they can occur more severely. Your belly will also be significantly larger than that of other mothers-to-be. Therefore, take good care of yourself and avoid physical exertion and stress, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, to reduce the risk of premature labor ..

birth of triplets

Your doctor will try to keep your pregnancy as long as possible so that the children are well developed when they are born. Triplets are often born earlier than other babies, around 30 weeks of gestation. Doctors therefore recommend hospital births . It is best to look for a clinic that has a children’s clinic attached, where premature babies can be treated. While natural childbirth is possible as long as the first child is head down, there is a higher risk of birth complications . Therefore, in most cases, a cesarean section is required. You are entitled to an extended maternity leave period of 12 weeks so that you can recover sufficiently after the birth  .

Maternity leave with triplets

Parental leave supports you and your partner in reconciling work and family better. If you have triplets or just one child, you are entitled to up to three years of parental leave. In the case of multiple births, this is three years per child. In our article “How long to take parental leave” you will find all information about deadlines and how to divide parental leave with multiple children . In addition, we have many other useful tips on parental leave .

Breastfeeding triplets: yes or no?

First of all, there is no harm in trying. If you have enough milk, there is nothing wrong with it. However, mothers of triplets report that when they are breastfeeding, they often have nothing else to do all day. The bottle offers the advantage that the partner can also support the care of the triplets. Of course, you can also pump out breast milk and fill it into bottles. Which variant you choose should always depend on your personal feelings. In this question there is no single recommendation that fits everyone, the most important thing is that your three babies are doing well.

First equipment for triplets

If you have three children at once, you need a larger car, three car seats, one or two suitable strollers, possibly a larger apartment, three times as much clothing, three times as many diapers, etc. It is best to look for used offers early on – if possible um, this saves money. Parents’ forums can often be used to make contact with other parents of triplets whose children are older and who can lend some of their equipment, such as practical triplets’ strollers. But you can also use a twin stroller in combination with a normal stroller or a sling. Later, when the little ones can stand, a twin buggy may be sufficient with buggy board. You will need three children’s beds when the babies grow up. In the beginning, one bed in which all three lie side by side is often sufficient.

Support for triplets

You can find many more tips on initial equipment and of course on other topics in special forums such as Drillis.net , the forum by and for parents of multiples. Otherwise, the most important principle for you is to accept help! If possible, involve family and friends in caring for and caring for the babies. In addition, a cleaning help can be useful, under certain conditions there is even a right to a household help. Also ask your midwife, she has contacts and can give you valuable advice. Another option might be to hire an au pair who can relieve you of everyday life.

There is also state aid and aid from private organizations such as  profamilia , which support families with multiple children. For example, you receive the “multiple child supplement” and the calculated parental allowance is increased by a supplement of 300 euros for the second and each additional child. Find out more on the  wellcome website  – the social enterprise is committed to ensuring that all families receive the support they need. It is also always useful to ask the responsible youth welfare office about possible help.

In the face of these challenges, it is best to keep reminding yourself that you will grow with the situation and remember: It will be a stressful, but also wonderful time!