Question for Moms with Twins

Updated on February 27, 2009
R.P. asks from Keller, TX
18 answers

Hello moms,

I am twenty four weeks pregnant with twins and find it very hard to breathe most of the time especially in the mornings. My doctor said they seem to be growing properly so not to worry, but I still do a little bit. Is this normal, and at some point when they drop will breathing become easier? I worry if they are getting enough oxygen.

Thanks
R.'

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B.L.

answers from Dallas on

Yeah that's normal. I had twins 19yrs ago and thats the way I felt too. Find the best way to sit or lay and do that till they are born. I had one twin on my bladder and one on my lungs, so I was peeing and trying to get enough air at the same time LOL. It will get better. This is the easy part, next comes raising them!! Good Luck

More Answers

G.W.

answers from Dallas on

You will not breathe normally again until the babies are removed from your body - LOL I remember so specifically three years ago giving birth to my B/B twins via c-section and as soon as #2 was pulled out, I could breathe again. What a wonderful moment it was! Get used to short shallow breathing until the end of the pregnancy :-)

K.M.

answers from Dallas on

Congratulations!
My b/g twins are now 6 years old and I can still remember the difficulty breathing and sleeping as they got bigger. Most of my time that I was not standing, I would be in our recliner. This included sleeping at night. I had the same problem with our first daughter. I carried the twins until 35 weeks and they were 5lbs 8oz and 6lbs 13oz. My first daughter I carried to 37 weeks and she was 8lbs 11oz. I hope this will give you some piece, but I will promise that they are all fine and healthy and I was able to breathe normally after they were born.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

Pretty much what everyone else is said...Normal. Luckily I didnt get the loss of breath as much since my B/B twins carried really low ( I swear I thought they would just drop out!). What helped me alot was a body pillow, one of those long ones. I would sleep on my side against one of those and 'prop' my belly on it. It seemed to help.
You will definitely breathe better when the babies come...you just may not get much sleep! Ha! : )

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A.C.

answers from Dallas on

I am not a mom of twins but I had one big baby! I found breathing very difficult starting around 4 months. My ObGyn assured me she was getting enough oxygen over and over again (as an asthmatic I was really very scared, although it wasn't asthma causing the trouble- I am very short waisted so my big girl was squishing my lungs). My doc said that the baby takes what it needs and I get what's left- which was why I was so uncomfortable! My baby didn't really drop so it didn't get better until she was born. I also found acid reflux to be an issue with a big baby. Hope you feel better soon and congrats on the double blessing!

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E.S.

answers from Dallas on

Congrats on your twins!!! I'm a mother of twins and I'm here to say the breathing didn't get any easier!!! They are okay in there, so try not to worry too much. It got really difficult for me to breathe, eat, walk, and sleep. It's amazing how much you have to go through, just so they can grow!! It paid off though, because I made it to 37 weeks with no complications. They were born heatlhy and a really good size. So, just hang in there!!!

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S.S.

answers from Wichita Falls on

You're normal - they're fine. :) I saw a chiropractor often during my pregnancy.. which was twins until 4 months (lost one), and one 9 and a half pound baby at the end. I couldn't breathe, walk (sciatic nerve), eat (without wanting to throw up because there was NO ROOM!!).. The chiropractor made it livable. I saw her once a week.

Good luck
S.

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C.A.

answers from Dallas on

I'm 29 wks with just one and have trouble breathting. They babies are most likely pushing up on your diaphram. I find that it helps to get as streched out as I can. We have a recliner that I will lay out as flat as I can but at and upwards angle. It seems to help.

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A.W.

answers from Dallas on

For me breathing did not get better until they were out. Mine was so bad I worried I would die in my sleep if I laid on my back to long. Mine was the worst at bedtime.

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S.J.

answers from Dallas on

Hi R.,

I had the same prob & it should get better. i tried to stay off my feet as muych as possible & rest when I could. best of luck to you & your family

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V.A.

answers from Amarillo on

Shortness of breath is completely normal in pregnancy, even with a singleton. As the baby or babies in your case grows, everything gets pushed up and sideways to make room for the growing addition. I can remember having to sit up to sleep when I was pregnant with my twins because it was easier to breathe. They just take up sooo much space in there and push everything up. They are getting plenty of oxygen, you would be turning blue if you weren't getting enough.

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T.S.

answers from Dallas on

I was the same with my twins. One was so far up she acutally bruised my diaphram and it took about 2 months after she was born before all was back to normal! :) As I was laying on the operating table for my c-section I could actually feel myself breathing better as each baby came out...weird! :) One thing that does help at night or during a nap is to sleep in a recliner. It is better than flat on your back or side. I couldn't sleep at night like that, but I did take naps that way and it helped get back some of the sleep I was missing. Good luck and enjoy. Twins are a blast and not as hard as you think!

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I didn't have twins, but found it hard to breathe with my 1st pregnancy, especially at night. I used Breathe Right Strips (the strips you put on your nose to help open the airways). For me, it seemed to work. I guess my nasal passageway was swollen. I know later it seems hard to breathe b/c the baby is pushing into your lungs or at least it seems that way. My other other suggestion is to try to stand/lay back so that you aren't hunched over.

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K.V.

answers from Dallas on

Hi R.! Congrats on the twins...it can be tough those first few years, but what a blessing! Mine will be six next month.:) I had a very health pregnancy & carried them full term, however, I did experience shortness of breath. Basically, I felt claustrophobic...like I couldn't get enough space or air. TMI probably, but I felt more comfortable with very little clothing! Don't worry...they will be fine & you will be able to breathe (and sleep)again, in say, 3 years or so! Good luck.

K

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

First of all, congratulations! I would trust your doctor that the babies are fine...and yes this is normal. I had a hard time breathing as well and it will continue until you deliver. It might ease up a bit when they drop down, but I still had a hard time then as well. Try to get as much rest as possible and try to stay off your feet too. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy. I know it can be really uncomfortable at times, but it's all worth it! Best of luck to you and your family when the babies do arrive...twins are a wild ride, but so fun!

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

R.-
Congrats!!!!! As you have heard from everyone else, this is completely normal. You will have trouble until they come out. I slept in a recliner to help and so did the rest of my friends with twins.

What a good age for your children. All my boys are 3 years apart. I have one that just turned seven, My three year old will be 4 in in May and the twins will be 1 at the beginning of June. Thank goodness you don't have to be pregnant with them during the Texas summer. Good luck! If you need to talk to someone, let me know.
S.

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, this is normal. I have twins and I also had a hard time catching my breath. Take it easy and try and rest as much as possible. My girls came at 33 weeks and I wish I would have stayed off of my feet more during my pregnancy with them. I bought a snuggle pillow and it helped quite a bit (especially with back pain). Congrats!

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G.R.

answers from Dallas on

congratulation in your twins!!!!

i have 8 week old twins boy/girl and is not gonna come easy to breathe i carry them for 36.5 weeks ans each weight 6lbs 8 oz and it was vey hard to breathe, to sleep almost do anything but hang in there.

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