TTTS is a condition that occurs during pregnancy wherein one twin gives blood and nutrients to the other twin. The donor twin (or the one who gives blood) tends to give away more blood than it receives and therefore runs the risk of malnourishment and organ failure. The recipient twin (the twin who receives the blood) receives too much blood and is at risk of overworking the heart and having other cardiac complications.
Published in Chapter:
Twins, Triplets, and Multiples, Oh My!: Challenges, Risks, and Best Practices for Caring for Multiples
Copyright: © 2024
|Pages: 21
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1285-8.ch003
Abstract
The twin birth rate has declined by 4% over the years, with the research on multiple pregnancies growing smaller. The lack of resources and information makes it difficult for expecting mothers of multiples to properly prepare during and after their pregnancy. This chapter aims to address the various challenges, risks, and care requirements that may come with multiple pregnancies, as well as maternal well-being, the adjustment period of bringing the children back home, and maintaining a positive quality of life for the family. This chapter not only identifies a number of these challenges, but also offers best practices to mothers of twins and multiples via a brief study, wherein mothers report on demographics, pregnancy and delivery histories, self-reported levels of anxiety and depression, and the most shocking, positive, and negative features of being the mother of a twin or multiple. Finally, the study offers helpful recommendations for parents of how to best raise twins and multiples and how to ensure they maintain their own, unique identities.