Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 21:25:31 -0500 From: gima <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Premature inductions/JAMA Re: This article was on the news service today. If the authors read Lactnet they would *know* why there were more twins born prematurely to the mothers who had the most intensive health (?) care. This really surprised me... I've heard of lots more cases of big (well, normal) sized twins and even triplets being born recently. I know my evidence is very anecdotal, but I make a point of making myself available to as many moms expecting and breastfeeding twins as possible in our community. Besides (but related to) interventions, there must be a difference between what is sometimes called "biological" or naturally-occuring twins and those resulting from fertility treatments. The latter, of course, are subject to close monitoring throughout the pregnancy, not to mention more interventions all the way along. And what of the effects of amniocentesis, which I was pushed to have so many times? This is a tricky issue, I know, but in naturally-occuring twins, it is estimated that roughly half die in utero before they are even diagnosed. With increased intervention, more frequent and earlier ultrasounds, etc. that probably doesn't happen as often. No, this is nowhere near a medical opinion, but I am beginning to believe that there are women who are "meant" to carry and birth twins, and by this I mean their bodies are capable of it, and these ones (who, moreover, are usually happy to learn they are carrying them) have big, healthy, full-term babies. As I say -- certainly not a medical opinion, nor is it meant to be shared with moms who are having a difficult pregnancy and/or have had fertility treatments. Of course, diet and rest are important. I thought these were no longer issues, with better prenatal care, but I am seeing that they are. During my first twin pregnancy, I was thrilled that the doctor was checking on me to see if I was eating lots and resting lots -- quite a change from early, singleton pregnancies where the emphasis was on not putting on too much weight, and getting enough exercise. Anecdotal, but I have to brag: my twin pregnancies resulted in weight gains of sixty and seventy pounds, respectively, and babies born at 39.5 weeks (actually full-term for me, because I have short cycles. and without childbirth interventions, after two hours of labour) and 39 weeks (unfortunately by emergency C/Sec, footling). Both girls (in two different pregnancies) weighed 7#2, one boy was 7#10 and the other 8#4 (he was the one who turned and got his foot stuck in the last week). Still smaller than my singletons, but that part is normal for multiples and not due to interventions, IMHO. They occured naturally, and were under the care of laid-back physicians, one of whose daughters had twins and breastfed. Sheer luck, all the way. Jo-Anne *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html