Anybody read the book "What to expect with Twins, Triplets, or Quads"

I was at the doctor's office today and they recommonded this book. Has anybody read this it, is it worth getting?

TIA
Jen

 

I read the whole thing from cover to cover in about a week. I loved it!! I ordered it from amazon.com. You can get it cheaper!!

 

I have this. I believe that it's a good starting point for gathering info. - almost like building a foundation. For me, I continued learning by joining a multiples group, TS reading Internet articles (from credible sources) and talking to a friend of mine with twins.

 

i **LOVED** this book. I might still have mine. If you like, I'll check tonight and if I've got it, you're welcome to it! It's "well-loved" though, because I read it SOOO much during my pregnancy! :blush:

 

I LOVED MINE! Very helpful information. I think I bought 3 or 4 twin pregnancy books, and that one was by far the best

 

I loved mine. It's like any book that you take what you want from it but there were two parts that I adored. One was of foot prints of babies at different gestational ages. It really showed me what one more week in the womb could do. The other page was very similar and had head circumferences. I would look at those two pages every time I wanted them to just get out of me.

 

This is the one by Dr. Luke? If so, LOVED it. It was very helpful!!

 

I read it and found it very informative as well. It had tons of great information in it.

 

Yes, I read the book cover to cover in a matter of days. Great book with lots of helpful information. Really worth purchasing. I am only 10 weeks into the pregnancy, and am sure I will go back and re-read much of the book over the next several months.

 

Have it. Loved it. Good read. (what everyone else said...)

 

If this is Dr. Barbara Luke's book, then it's the BEST book you can read, IMO! I didn't follow the diet plan religiously, but I did pretty well. I read that book over and over each and every night. It is full of valuable information.

 

I couldn't have made it this far without this book!! It has been a lifesaver!! I've even caught Jay reading it!!

Shannon

 

Yes, this is a really good book. But don't freak out if you don't follow all of her advice down to the letter. She recommends going to a perinatologist rather than a regular OB and gives her reasons, but I found a fantastic OBGYN, and since I had an uneventful twin pregnancy, I didn't need more than my very experienced (and cautious) OB, who sent me to get lots of ultrasounds at a specialist's office in the last 12 weeks of my pregnancy. I did deliver at a hospital that had a level 3 NICU, though, just in case, which Barbara Luke also recommends.

She gives great nutritional advice, but I had a very hard time coming even close to her calorie suggestions. I ate a ton of food, and almost never made it to the 3000 calories or so that you are "supposed" to eat. I just followed most of her advice to the best of my ability and tried to put on the right amount of weight each month (she has some great weight charts for readers to follow, so you can see if you are on track for your babies' best growth). So get the book for your information, but don't feel bad if you can't follow all of her advice. I learned a lot.
Good luck!

 

I read it and am reading it over and over! I find that since my doctor seems relatively inexperienced with twins I need this as a guide and reference. Many of the women at the Multiples class I attended read and follow the advice very closely. Definately worth the investment!

 

If it is Dr. Barbara Luke's book called "when you're expecting twins, triplets or quads", it is THE expectant multiple mom's bible. It is so important to gain at least 24 lbs. by 24 weeks and 45 lbs. total. I gained even more (because I started out on the skinny side) and our first two sets of twins were born in my 40th week with the first set weighing 7 lbs. 11 oz. & 7 lbs. 13 oz. and our second set weighed 7 lbs. 15 oz. and 9 lbs. 1/4 oz. Our third set of twins were ttts afflicted and had to be taken out at only 24 weeks but due to my large weight gain by 24 weeks, they survived at great weights (2 lbs. 4 oz. & 1 lb. 9 oz.).
So, it's definitely worth reading Dr. Luke's book and gaining the adequate weight with multiples!

 

QUOTE(jcs @ Jul 27 2007, 07:11 AM) [snapback]345803[/snapback]
Yes, this is a really good book. But don't freak out if you don't follow all of her advice down to the letter. She recommends going to a perinatologist rather than a regular OB and gives her reasons, but I found a fantastic OBGYN, and since I had an uneventful twin pregnancy, I didn't need more than my very experienced (and cautious) OB, who sent me to get lots of ultrasounds at a specialist's office in the last 12 weeks of my pregnancy. I did deliver at a hospital that had a level 3 NICU, though, just in case, which Barbara Luke also recommends.

She gives great nutritional advice, but I had a very hard time coming even close to her calorie suggestions. I ate a ton of food, and almost never made it to the 3000 calories or so that you are "supposed" to eat. I just followed most of her advice to the best of my ability and tried to put on the right amount of weight each month (she has some great weight charts for readers to follow, so you can see if you are on track for your babies' best growth). So get the book for your information, but don't feel bad if you can't follow all of her advice. I learned a lot.
Good luck!


This, almost exactly.

Also, don't let all her talk about preterm labor scare you too much. It's good to rest a lot and know what to watch for, but at points she makes it sound like you're guaranteed to have preemies if you have any type of a normal life after the midpoint. Just take it easy and listen to your body.

That's cool that your OB recommended it. My OB (who I loved, overall) had never even heard of it. And I tried once or twice to talk to her about the nutritional stuff, but she sounded so wary, I just decided to keep it to myself. She was a little concerned that I was gaining too much weight (especially at first), but I was right in line with the book's recommendations. (Not that I had any control over it -- I just HAD to eat all the time.)

 

have it and HATE it - if you'd like my copy for free PM me your addy...

I hated it because she makes it sound like "if you don't follow my advice to the letter you will have small sick babies" and as I've seen its not true...I just didn't like her attitude in the book - I realize that she may be an expert but the people she writes to (the reader) aren't imbiciles either...

 

I read it.
I like it okay, but it does try and scare you. There was NO WAY is was going to gain 24 pounds in the first 24 weeks - especially with how sick I was the first trimester. She did make is sound like if you didn't do that, you babies would be malnurished or something. My little ones have looked GREAT on ultrasound and are growing fine.
I don't skip meals and eat what I like, making sure to eat relatively healthy (but not always) and trying to eat often. However, I didn't like that she seemed to think that all low birthweight babies were the fault of the mother.

I do like the charts of growth of babies and I like the idea of looking at week groupings in terms of "touch downs". But, just like "What to expect when your expecting" for moms of singletons - take the good and throw out the bad. I definitely didn't look at it as "the Bible".

She says you should basically stop working by 24 weeks. Yea, for those with a money tree in their backyard that might be fine, but some of us need to go out and earn money to buy the food she encourages us to eat. Again, don't feel bad if you and your doctor decide that you continuing to work is okay.

I do like the advice of things like "don't stand when you can sit" and other things like her signs for pre-term labor though.

 

Yes, and thought it was very useful. I would highly recommend it!!

 

I am wondering about her diet and GD moms. I was diagnosed early because I had it last time and I am really high risk. I am also overweight already. I have gained about 5 lbs and no one seems concerned. There is almost no way I can eat 3000 calories on a GD diet, so I am wondering if she has anything about this in her book or not....thinking of buying it.

 

QUOTE(AmynTony @ Jul 27 2007, 11:52 PM) [snapback]346749[/snapback]
I hated it because she makes it sound like "if you don't follow my advice to the letter you will have small sick babies"...



QUOTE(stbmomof3 @ Jul 28 2007, 12:17 AM) [snapback]346789[/snapback]
There was NO WAY is was going to gain 24 pounds in the first 24 weeks - especially with how sick I was the first trimester. She did make is sound like if you didn't do that, you babies would be malnurished or something. My little ones have looked GREAT on ultrasound and are growing fine.

...

I do like the charts of growth of babies and I like the idea of looking at week groupings in terms of "touch downs". But, just like "What to expect when your expecting" for moms of singletons - take the good and throw out the bad. I definitely didn't look at it as "the Bible".

She says you should basically stop working by 24 weeks. Yea, for those with a money tree in their backyard that might be fine, but some of us need to go out and earn money to buy the food she encourages us to eat. Again, don't feel bad if you and your doctor decide that you continuing to work is okay.

I do like the advice of things like "don't stand when you can sit" and other things like her signs for pre-term labor though.


I agree with these posters. I have hyperemesis (severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy that makes it sometimes impossible to eat, let alone gain weight) and to "only" be up 8-9 pounds at 19 weeks makes me scared if I read her book. Especially last night when I read a part where the mom had heard a horror story about a lady losing twins at 24 weeks, but then she says something like, "But she also had only gained ten pounds..." Well, that's going to be me, only gaining 10 pounds by 24 weeks and so what? I'm going to lose my babies as a result? UGH!!!!! Reading that book causes me more grief than good.

I do, however, like to read the other parts that aren't nutritional advice.

 

I had the book and really didn't like most of it. I found her very condescending and obnoxious. I only gained 30 pounds, and my son was small, but it didn't matter, for whatever reason he didn't get what he needed in utero. My daughter was small as well (4 lbs 12 ounces) but perfectly healthy.

I was disappointed that I ended up on bedrest at 25 weeks, due to h bp and IUGR, but the high blood pressure was inevitable. And the IUGR was likely due in part to the high bp. I did continue working until 32 weeks from my bed.

I know a lot of folks like the book, I'm just not one of them.

Miriam

 

I really liked it, although at first it just scared the crapola out of me. I also look at the pages of footprints and head circumferences when I am just DONE! I think you have to take it for what it is, just another guide in this journey called twin pregnancy.

m.

 

My friend who had twins a few years ago highly reccomended this book when I told her I was expecting twins, and even mailed it to me. I have purchased 4 books myself and this one is far better than all the others. I would definately get it!