Kathy you wrote:
"I've been following this thread about multiples with interest -- especially
JoAnne's comments about multiples slowing down even more in growth toward
the end of pregnancy, therefore being *more* disparate, not less disparate,
than singletons of the same gestational age, the longer they stay in."

I am not sure anyone remembers Dr. Tom Brewer and the Brewer diet.  But back
when I was having babies and going to midwives,  this diet was the one
suggested.  It requires alot of protein and unrestricted use of salt.  He
supposedly had great success in combatting toxemia in pregnancy by diet
alone.  Those who followed this diet at our birth center had big babies 8 and
9 pound babies were average.

A few mothers who had singletons with the birth center, went on to have twins
in subsequent pregnancies and followed this diet (they were under OB care
then with the twins)  Funny thing is they had full term deliveries--vaginally
and their babies were 7 and 8 pounds.  One mother was 45 years old.  Is this
an oddity?  Or isn't the medicalization of birth causing women to believe
that their bodies cannot possibly bring to term their babies?  I am
considering only twins and triples because going beyond that we know space
would be even more critical.

As someone who has homebirthed all my babies, I remember with shock a medical
professional telling me that he believed I had had no prenatal care because I
was going to a midwive.  Yet every appointment was at leas 1/2 hour to 1 hour
in length.  Some of that appointment encompassed a discussion of my diet (had
to produce a 5-day diet history each time).  I had babies from 8 pounds to 9
pounds at home, no stitches with the biggest babies.  What OB office spends
any time on diet with pregnant mothers other than the fear of too much weight
gain?

So I guess from my perspective, I think that this belief that it is "normal"
for twins to not make it full term and be small is questionable and a
self-forfilling prophecy.  Educate women on nutrition in pregnancy for an
optimal delivery & recovery and I think you would see a major difference.
Instead because we don't have "time" and because we  believe it is normal for
twin pregnancies to be early and smaller babies we don't educate and monitor
the pregnant women's nutrition.   Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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