The Importance Of Eating Right During A Twin Pregnancy

During a twin pregnancy, it is important to eat right to meet everyone’s nutritional needs. Keep in mind that in this case the energy requirement is greater than with a singleton pregnancy. The same goes for certain micronutrients.

For this reason, we’re giving you a set of guidelines so you can adjust your diet if you’re expecting twins. By ensuring the presence of fresh foods in your diet and a slight calorie surplus, you should have no problems.

Should you eat more?

One of the main nutritional myths during pregnancy has to do with energy intake.

You don’t need to increase your calorie intake much. What’s really important is that you follow your appetite instinct. It is true that your body needs more food during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, but there is no need to force your body to eat more than it wants to.

Except in situations of low maternal weight during pregnancy, where the doctor has already made a series of recommendations to adjust the energy balance, it is not necessary to eat without hunger.

However, it is important to create an optimal meal plan throughout the day. Five intakes are usually enough, so it is better to avoid restrictive protocols.

What if you’re not that hungry?

Normally, the appetite is in accordance with the energy needs of the body. If not, something is wrong.

Nausea and vomiting can occur during the first trimester , so certain intakes can be a problem for the mother. Fortunately, there are natural remedies to relieve this symptomatology.

According to a study published in the journal Foods , ginger can be consumed to prevent or relieve nausea. One option is to take it as a powder dissolved in water. Another is to add it as a seasoning to meals.

Eating well during a twin pregnancy: what you need to know

Let’s look at the main points of the diet during twin pregnancy, especially in terms of macro and micronutrients. This way you know how to optimally adjust your diet.

Supplements and vitamins

As with a singleton pregnancy, supplementation of the diet with folic acid is necessary. This is according to research published in the journal Annales d’Endocrinologie  .

By ensuring optimal absorption of this nutrient, problems with the closure of the fetal neural tube are prevented.

However, this supplement is routinely prescribed by specialists, most likely with another iodine and iron supplement. In addition, it is not necessary to include multivitamins in the woman’s diet during a twin pregnancy.

The calories you need

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the energy requirement usually remains unchanged. From the second trimester onwards, the need can increase by about 400 calories per day, but not more than this.

However, it is your appetite that determines the volume of your intake, unless the specialist says otherwise.

Tips for eating well during a twin pregnancy

In addition to the above, you need to have a number of important points clear to be able to eat well during a twin pregnancy.

The first thing that should be emphasized is the need to ensure the presence of fresh foods in the diet. Vegetables, fish, meat, eggs and dairy products should be available in abundance. However, it is important to limit ultra-processed foods as much as possible.

At the same time, and in the same way as during a singleton pregnancy, it is essential that you avoid alcohol and toxic substances such as tobacco and drugs. Caffeine and some herbs and infusions that can be abortifacient should also be avoided.

Eating well during a twin pregnancy is essential

As you have seen, optimizing your diet during a twin pregnancy ensures proper development of the fetuses. Energy and nutrient requirements must be met.

However, you don’t have to do anything special compared to a normal healthy diet. Just add folic acid, iodine and iron supplements and increase the calories a bit from the second trimester.

However, you should take extreme measures in the field of food hygiene and moderate the consumption of large fish, because of their concentration of heavy metals. It is also vital that you limit toxic substances.