When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads, Revised Edition : Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy

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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: A great book for mothers-to-be of multiples!
Review: I am a physician and frankly, I never imagined I would be a mother of twins. All the while, I thought that one has to have a family history of twins before one can have one. But no, I was blessed with my miracle babies and they are so beautiful. I have read all medical books regarding prenatal care of expectant multiples mother but never got much from them. When I was given this book as a gift, I was so happy to know and learn so much from it. It somehow helped me get through a difficult pregnancy and to think that it was my first time to get pregnant. It was doubly hard coz' I never had the faintest idea on how to get on with being pregnant. This book has given me so much insights and guidance. Its a must for would-be mothers of multiples--especially for first-time moms. I would like to thank the authors. They did a great book.

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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: Thank you, Dr. Luke!
Review: The other reviewers are dead-on...this book was far and away The Most Helpful and Useful book during my twin pregnancy. Absolutely. The other books scared me, this one inspired me.

I credit Dr. Luke's guidelines in large part to my twins' high birth weights: 6 lbs. 3 oz., and 7 lbs. 9 oz., delivered at 37w5d. Every single one of the 65 lbs. I gained during the pregnancy was worth it when the twins spent zero time in the NICU and were discharged from the hospital the same day I was. Doctors we didn't know were coming to see them in the hospital, saying they heard about "the big twins" that were born.

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Summary: If You Are Having Twins You Must Have This Book!
Review: This book has been and incredible resource for myself and my husband as we have progressed through my pregnancy with twins. It goes over what is going on in your body and the special needs you have carrying multiples - from A to Z. The information on your babies is also extremely helpful - they go over the weights and measurements and also how big you are (this was really helpful as I keep wondering how much larger I will get! :) As the director of a multiples clinic, Dr. Luke relays all this information in a format that is so easy to understand and relate. I felt like I had a caring doctor sitting there explaining my pregnancy to me. She also has real-life stories and experiences from other multiple moms that are so easy to relate to and don't feel "canned." This book has really helped us emotionally and physically through this pregnancy. I read the entire book the first week after buying it and I refer back to it almost daily. The part on bedrest for me was a Godsend as my doctor put me on bedrest at 24 weeks. Because of this book I knew what to do to get support and I know how important and vital this bedrest is to get my babies here safely. This book has also really helped me emotionally as I have dealt with family members who are less than supportive about the extra care my husband and I are taking to make sure we get these babies here safely. To sum it up, this book is a great resource and must have for a multiple mom or even a family member or friend of an expectant multiple mom who is trying to understand what is going on with the pregnancy!

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Summary: RE: This Book Freaked Out My Wife
Review: This is a follow-up to my review of January 2004:

Contrary to the advice in this book, my wife finally decided she didn't need to spend all day stuffing her face with junk food. She ate when she was hungry and the ammount she felt like eating. My twins were born 6lb 2oz and 6lb 13oz at 37&1/2 weeks. They are 6 months old now and the healthiest kids I've ever seen.

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Summary: Most informative and best by far
Review: When I found out we were having twins I asked my doctors for information on twin pregnancies and found them lacking in information specific to multiples. So I hit the bookstore and read several books. I chose this one because it was recommended by Twins Magazine. I am someone that likes to have clear specific information and this book is the best. This book provided all of the steps that I was looking for to take the best care of my developing twins. There are days when I can't eat everything that I would like to, but I just do the best I can. This book gave me the tools I needed to understand what my goals should be. Additionally, Dr. Luke includes her website in the book in case you have further questions. I had a specific question and believe it or not, she emailed me a very supportive and informative answer the next day. I will take this book to my Dr.s and recommend not only that they read it but that they recommend it when they diagnose twin pregnancies. It is empowering at a time when things can feel very out of control.