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Summary: The best multiple book on the market! Don't miss this one!
Review:
I wish I had read the review on this book prior to purchasing a half-dozen others. Without a doubt, this is the best twins book available.
Written by doctors who run the Multiples Clinic at the University of Michigan, this book chronicles the experiences of a team of doctors who have delivered hundreds, if not thousands, of multiples. Moreover, the doctors have a track record of bigger multiples that have longer gestational periods, based on the diet and bed rest plans that they outline.
Concerned about my own pregnancy with twins, I focused in on the chapter about nutrition. Although I was overwhelmed with the amount of calories and grams of protein recommended, the scientific rationale worked for me - the justification was exactly what I needed to remind me that its not about what I can do but what I can provide for my twins!
Great, constructive advice from tens of dozens of multiple parents really helped to see different sides of discussions, and different ways of accomplishing survival in the first month, keeping the house clean, assisting younger children already in the family, and more.
This book is a must! Read the other reviews and you will see that there are enough of us out there giving overwhelming reviews about the solid, scientific advice outlined in an easy to read (but small font) book.
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Summary: Help for Healthy Twins
Review: Excellent book -- particularly on the dietary advice. Even trying to eat the 3000 calories a day, I lost weight in my pregnancy (twins). I would have not been in as good of shape for bedrest, and delivering preemies (healthy 35 week kids) if I had not paid attention to this book. Plus, it comes from a highly respected research hospital, so more trustworthy than some other books.
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Summary: Everyone should read this even if they don't agree with it.
Review: I can see how some readers would be freaked out by the nutritional suggestions. 3500 calories a day is A LOT and it would be hard for some (especially vegetarians) to follow the nutritional guidelines. HOWEVER there is so much good information about NICU, breastfeeding etc... that I think anyone pregnant with twins should give it the benefit of the doubt. If the nutritional stuff doesn't work for you... Fine. BUT at least read it and see what it has to say. I myself am not counting calories, but I am trying to eat higher caloric foods (lots of smoothies and milkshakes) in an attempt to gain at least a little more weight than I would have without this information. It definately can't hurt to put on a few more pounds if it will benefit my twins. So... if you're considering this book as a possible read, I say go for it. There is a lot of information that is VERY pertinent and useful even if you choose not to put too much emphasis on her "diet".
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Summary: The best book for a new mom to be of twins or more!
Review: I found out late in my pregnancy that I was having twins. I was scared and excited all at once. I went to the local book store and starting reading everything I could. Any mom that is expecting multiples should have this book!
It was excellent for all me questions and calmed me fears. My babies were born at just 31 weeks. This book helped my understand everything I needed to know! It was a great read before and after my babies was born. I was able to read it the month I was in the hospital for preterm labor.
The nutrition guidelines were great! My Dr had me follow them and I had as healthy preemies as a preemie can be. Both my babies came out screaming! The advice is awesome! I can't say enough awesome things about this book! It is a must must have!!! This list in the back is very helpful for getting that extra help from different foundations.
This book was my life saver for my pregnancy and the first year!
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Summary: I had very healthy 30 weekers thanks to this book
Review: I found this book invaluable. I did not follow the dietary recommendations to the letter, I could not eat that much and I don't like McDonalds. Junk food made me naseaus. But I did use it as a guideline and made sure every bite had nutritional value. I did not have any of the common complications with multiples such as gestational diabetes or toxcemia. It was basically an uneventful pregnancy, but they were born at 30 weeks. And they weighed a whopping 3.8 and 3.14 lbs, which is over a lb more than average. The nurses were amazed and kept asking me if I was sure they were only 30weeks. They came home 4 weeks later. By the time they were 6 months they were on the growth charts and average, and 3 months later they had surpassed their peers. Their drs were astounded. I do credit this book in helping me understand the difference between single and multiple births and giving my babies the best fighting chance. I definitely recommend it as a good guideline.
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Summary: Great book - although site doesn't sell the latest edition
Review: I love this book - I went to look at the book at a bookstore, and was surprised to see that a 2004 revision has been issued which is not sold on on this site. That being said, this book is really useful if you're pregnant with multiples and just tired of hearing only negative news about what should be a double blessing. The food recommendations are well worth considering, just keep in mind the kids will only constitute about 15lbs of a 50lb weight gain. =)
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Summary: I recommend this book to everyone I know having multiples
Review: I think this book is the best resource for women having multiples on what to do during their pregnancy. I tried to follow the recommendations as closely as I could, although taking in 4,000 calories a day was almost impossible!! My triplets were born at 35 weeks and all came home from the hospital with me and I have to give some of the credit to following the advice in this book.
I did see the negative review from the husband of the lady who could not "force feed" herself. That is unfortunate, but I don't not think it will apply to most women.
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Summary: Triplet mom -- loved this book!
Review: I used this book as more of a reference throughout my pregnancy. I didn't read it cover to cover -- just kept looking things up as I needed the information. It's pretty dog-eared at this point. And now that my babies are 6 1/2 months old, I still find myself going back to it like an old friend. I didn't find anything about it to be frightening -- just full of advice that motivated me to ask questions and take good care of myself. Of course, you have to listen to your body, your doctors, nutritionists, and think for yourself! Each person and pregnancy is unique, so no book can tell everyone exactly what to do. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and was under the care of a nutritionist, so I had to follow a different diet. But I found that the nutritionist wasn't really experienced with multiple pregnancies, so she was basing my caloric intake on a singleton pregnancy. I told her about this book (and the companion nutrition book by Dr. Luke), and she did some additional research. As a result, she increased my calories and fat. I didn't find it possible to eat as much as Dr. Luke recommends (because of nausea and just plain capacity), but I think her point about increased caloric intake for multiples is an important one. The only thing I wish Dr. Luke had mentioned that she didn't is a condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPC). It's rare, but it's a condition that comes on in the third trimester or after delivery. It's more common with multiple births, and it can kill. I was fortunate in that an ER doctor mentioned it to me as a possibility, when I showed up there with severe edema and difficulty breathing a week after delivery. I asked my internist order an echocardiogram, the PPC was diagnosed early, and I'm on the road to reversal. If this book had mentioned the symptoms, I would likely have been diagnosed even sooner. Overall though, at every step along the way, I found the book's advice to be sound and the anecdotes to be helpful. Highly recommend!
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Summary: My OB thought it was great!
Review: If you, or anyone you know is having multiples you MUST get this book and read it above all others! I bought this book after I learned I was having twins (20 weeks into the pregnancy) and it was sooo informative. It even has pictures of preemie to full term footprints to give you an idea of how large your baby is at the time, and how far you need to go. It saved my sanity and gave me the insight I needed to know when to call the Doc. and get to the hospital. I was hospitalized 3 times with early contractions at 28, 30, and 32 weeks. I knew what to expect because this book had explained the medications, how long they worked, and what to expect with bedrest. I thought I would never need bedrest, but I had to do it for 10 weeks. We're talking shower, potty, bed; that's it! My boys weren't growing much at first, but after reading the nutrition info., I started drinking Ensure just to add extra calories. This book got me to 35 3/4 weeks. I probably would have gone further, but I developed a rare syndrome called HELLP which my OB said he must deliver in a few hours. I ended up with a c-section and two beautiful identical twin boys who weighed 4lbs13oz and 5lb8oz! I recommend this book to ANYONE having multiples. It's like a medical guidline.
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Summary: The best book you can get for your babies!
Review: It is because of this book that my identical twin girls came home from the hospital when I did (less than 48 hours after birth). Tamara describes pre-term labor on page 119, and because of this description (it's really not described in any other resource I read), I was able to recognize immediately that my body was ready to call it quits at 28 weeks.. long before the babies were ready. Because of this early recognition, I was able to take medication at home (rather than be admitted to the hospital), and my babies were born healthy at 36 weeks (with APGARS of 9,10 and 8,9). It is because of the diet that Dr. Luke recommends in this book that the pediatrician exclaimed excitedly during their first exam, "they're so strong.. they're behaving like full term newborns!" (and yes, there was some fast food in the mix.) I used this book as a reference throughout my twin pregnancy, and after, and recommend it to every expectant mother of multiples as an absolute must-have. Thank you Dr. Luke and Tamara, for helping me understand what needed to be done, and presenting it in such a consumable and enjoyable package.
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