For Claire, week 32 with twins was when twin pregnancy stopped feeling “relatively normal.” In her words, week 32 was truly hellacious.
It was her last week seeing patients as a chiropractor, she was having contractions with nearly every appointment, and she had a gut feeling that landed her in the hospital.
After that trip to the hospital, she came home with a new diagnosis and a lot to process.
Watch Claire’s Week 32 with Twins video update here! Or keep reading below for the biggest takeaways from her video blog.
Takeaway 1: Trust the gut feeling (and know your numbers)
On a Monday in her 32nd week of twin pregnancy, Claire woke up with a sense that something was just off. Instead of brushing that feeling aside, she took her own blood pressure at home.
On the first reading, she watched it climb to 155/96 (well above her usual 120s). So she waited 15 minutes and saw it climb again. That’s when she knew it was time to call her care team. As you’ll see in the next takeaway, trusting her instinct mattered.
If your blood pressure numbers are trending upward (especially that bottom (diastolic) number), or you just feel weird, tell your doctor right away.
Takeaway 2: Claire’s gestational hypertension diagnosis
The hospital test showed that Claire’s protein levels were just under the threshold. But since she had been having high readings, she was diagnosed with gestational hypertension.
Twin moms face a significantly higher risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia than singleton moms. This is largely because of all the extra blood that’s circulating through your body and the extra load it puts on the heart.
Gestational hypertension can eventually turn into preeclampsia, which is the cascade Claire and her team are now watching closely at 32 weeks onward.
While you can try your best to take it easy during your twin pregnancy, there’s no cure for preeclampsia other than delivery. So close monitoring during the final weeks of your twin pregnancy is absolutely vital.
Takeaway 3: Know the warning signs of preeclampsia
In addition to rising blood pressure, other common preeclampsia red flags to look out for include:
- Swelling (especially in the hands or face)
- Blurry vision or vision changes
- A persistent headache
- Nausea or vomiting
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially in the second or third trimester of twin pregnancy, call your provider right away. It’s not a good idea to just wait and see if it passes.
To learn more about preeclampsia in twin pregnancy, check out this article with insights from real twin moms who’ve experienced preeclampsia!
Takeaway 4: 32 weeks with twins is a strong place to be
A scare or additional complication at 32 weeks pregnant can feel scary because it’s still an early gestational age by singleton standards. But twin timelines are different.
Nat reminded Claire that in twin pregnancy world, she’s doing great and every extra day now is a gift. Nat’s own pregnancy scare started at 27 weeks and she was able to hold on until 34 weeks.
Twiniversity tip: If you’re struggling with a complicated twin pregnancy, remember that a diagnosis is a reason to monitor and prepare, it’s not an end-all-be-all verdict.
Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.
Takeaway 5: Once you’ve had a scare, pack the bag and prep to go “underground”
Claire’s response was immediate. She packed their hospital bag that night, put it in the car, and filled the car with gas.
From there, she made sure to tie up any loose ends like: finishing auto-pay set-ups, stocking the house with simple foods and extra snacks, and buying odds and ends so nothing falls through the cracks while she’s “underground” for a few weeks.
Takeaway 6: Don’t stay stuck in the worst case scenario
Claire is a planner who likes to have every worst-case scenario covered. But she admitted she also lives in those scenarios for too long, which quietly robs her of her peace.
Her husband told her something that really hit home: “You’re rehearsing the collapse.” With twins, preparing for hard things is wise. At the same time, mentally living through them on repeat is not. Naming the spiral is the first step to stepping out of it. But once you do that, you’ve got to find a way to talk yourself back to reality (and lower your cortisol).
When your stress levels stay high for too long, your cortisol levels stay elevated. And cortisol can then raise your blood pressure—the exact thing you’re trying to keep down. To bring yourself back, it helps to ground yourself in what’s actually true right now: “I’m home. My lungs are clear. My vision is fine. There’s food in my belly. The babies are okay.”
You can also add in some helpful nervous-system resets like a cool cloth, fresh air, slow paced breathing. And lean on your people. If the spiral feels particularly strong, reach out to your therapist, call your doula, ask about a social worker, or tell your doctor; they almost always have someone you can talk to.
Takeaway 7: A reframe if you’re having twins: sometimes out is safer than in
Claire’s doula offered a perspective she’d never considered: that with twins, there sometimes comes a point where the babies are safer delivered than kept in longer. With three humans in play, it’s not only about the babies being safe, but as the mom, your health must be protected too.
Takeaway 8: Ask your family about their medical history
Sometimes we think we know our family history, only to find out later on that there was a key piece of information unknown to us. Nat only learned that her own mother had preeclampsia while she was in labor with preeclampsia herself.
So take this insight to heart. Ask your family about their pregnancy and birth histories now. That way, you can avoid being blind-sided when it comes closer to your twin delivery.
Takeaway 9: Advocate for better postpartum care
Postpartum preeclampsia appears to be on the rise. Yet moms are routinely sent home without so much as a blood pressure cuff. Remember that “baby friendly” hospital policies don’t always translate to mom-friendly care.
So do what you can to advocate for yourself. Consider asking for a blood pressure cuff, know the warning signs, and line up your support. And, please, never drive yourself to the hospital in labor. Have your driver and your plan B ready.
One decision worth making before your twins’ delivery: cord blood banking…
One more item to at least think about before your twinnies comes is cord blood banking. Cord blood is a one-time source of newborn stem cells that’s collected just after birth, and it can be used later down the road in the case of certain health circumstances.
If cord blood banking is something you want to explore, this series’ sponsor CordBlood.com offers special twin-family pricing. Use the code DUO2 for a special discount for parents of multiples!
Watch the full episode:
This Week 32 update is part of a larger playlist following Claire’s twin pregnancy through delivery. See the full playlist here.
Connect with Mommy Claire:
Claire and her husband run Reignite Chiropractic. Show them some love by following along with them on Instagram or Facebook.
