Prenatal Vitamins for Twins or Multiple Pregnancies: Do You Need Extra?

About 3.3% of mothers have a twin or more pregnancy each year, and the number has been on the rise of about 70% since 1980. While heredity is one reason, another reason for multiple pregnancies is women choosing to get pregnant over the age of 30. Since women now start their families later in life, pregnancies after the age of 30 and the use of IVF are becoming more common. It boosts the chances of twin or multiple pregnancies.

Questions like “What should I eat and avoid, staying healthy, prenatal vitamins, weight gain, or doctor visits” keep you awake at night. This blog will explore the unique nutritional requirements and challenges, the role of prenatal vitamins, and other things expectant mothers should consider.

Proper Nutrition During Twin or Multiple Pregnancies

Ensuring adequate nutrition during multiple pregnancies is one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy complications and deliver healthy babies. So, the question is, how do nutrient requirements change during multiple pregnancies? Hold your horse, we are curious too. So, we buried our heads in research. We found that you need the following nutrients more than usual. Let’s understand them.

Protein

It is no secret that caloric needs increase significantly when you carry multiple fetuses. Ensuring adequate protein intake helps prevent the risk of low birth weight, restricted placental growth, or other complications. It is recommended to consume around 100 grams of protein daily.

Folic Acid

We already know that folic acid is essential during pregnancy to prevent the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). But are they equally crucial for multiple pregnancies or are extra amounts required? The answer is YES.

Generally, a mom-to-be requires 400 to 600 mcg of folic acid daily, but with multiple pregnancies, around 1000 mcg of folic acid per day is recommended. Remember, doubling your prenatal vitamin dosage is not an option, rather consult your healthcare provider. Also, eat foods enriched with folate, including leafy greens, legumes, vegetables, avocados, and others.

Iron

Iron is essential for the body to produce red blood cells and increase blood volume. Iron deficiency (anemia) is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. For mothers having multiple pregnancies, experts recommend consuming 30 mg per day during the 1st trimester and around 60 mg daily during the 2nd and 3rd trimester. However, this does not mean you have to increase the amount of your prenatal pills. Consult your healthcare provider and consume iron-rich foods, such as spinach, broccoli, seafood, lean meat, fish, red beans, iron-fortified cereals, and so on.

Calcium And Vitamin D

Calcium is crucial for the development of stronger bones and teeth of the baby and Vitamin D helps boost calcium absorption. Experts recommend to intake of around 2000 to 2500 mg of calcium per day and 1000 to 4000 IU of Vitamin D daily to support healthy multiple pregnancies. You should also consume calcium and Vitamin D-rich foods like milk, dairy products, fish, avocados, spinach, broccoli, egg yolks, cheese, tofu, soy milk, fortified cereals, fruits, etc.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids (DHA)

Omega-3 Fatty Acid (DHA) is critical for the optimal brain and eye development of the baby.  Some experts suggest taking 1000 to 4000 IU of DHA daily to reduce the risk of preterm birth and support overall fetal development.

Magnesium

 It is another nutritional requirement for mamas carrying multiple pregnancies. It helps prevent the risk of preterm birth and optimizes the development of the nervous system in the baby.

Should You Double Down Your Prenatal Vitamins During Multiple Pregnancies?

It is a common notion that if you are expecting multiple babies, you should double the dosage of prenatal vitamins. However, this is baseless and completely wrong as it can be harmful to your babies. High dosages of vitamins like Vitamin A can lead to birth defects. Therefore, it is essential to never double your prenatal vitamin dosage on your own and consult a healthcare provider for guidance.

What Makes Trimacare the Best Prenatal Vitamin?

Trimacare is the best prenatal vitamin for twins and multiple pregnancies because it's specially designed to meet the increased nutritional needs of having more than one baby. It is a clinically formulated prenatal pill that includes high-grade iron to enhance optimal hemoglobin levels, powerful folic acid for neural tube support, and a full-spectrum blend of essential nutrients. Our prenatal vitamin promotes optimal nutrient absorption, increases energy, and enhances general maternal and fetal well-being. Trimacare contains 20+ essential MMN to bridge nutritional gaps that the diet alone cannot fill, providing a dependable option for pregnant mamas requiring that little extra help.

The Bottom Line

Meeting the increased nutritional demand during multiple pregnancies is a challenge. While standard prenatal vitamins provide a strong foundation, extra attention to protein, folic acid, calcium, Vitamin D, DHA, magnesium, and iron are required. Doubling your prenatal pills on your own is not better as it leads to harmful outcomes. Thus, consult your healthcare provider to ensure the best way to meet the nutritional requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Que: Do I need extra calories for multiple pregnancies?

Ans: Yes, an additional 300 calories per day for each baby are recommended.

Que: Does Trimacare support multiple pregnancies?

Ans: Yes, Trimacare prenatal vitamin is formulated to support multiple pregnancies and fill the nutritional gap.

Que: Should I double my prenatal vitamin dose with twins?

Ans: No, doubling prenatal vitamin dosage leads to an excess intake of certain vitamins that lead to harmful effects. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any step.