Twins!: Expert Advice from two practicing physicians on pregnancy, birth and the first y [Paperback]

Connie Agnew (Author), Alan Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 1997

The likelihood of giving birth to twins has shot up from one-in-90 to one-in-40 in recent years, thanks to the escalating use of fertility treatments and the advancing age of first-time mothers. Today, more than 100,000 multiple births take place annually, but despite this astonishing statistic, there hasn't been an authoritative reference that adequately focuses on the unique concerns of the parents until now.

"Twins!" gives parents comprehensive information on the physical, medical, emotional, and psychological issues involved in having twins. The first part of the book covers the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience, and discusses a broad range of twin-specific information such as the epidemiology of twinning, fetal and embryonic development, nutritional needs, and exercise. The second section covers the first year of life, discussing such topics as telling the twins apart, size and energy differences, and how to cope with the extra work.

Additional features include discussions with parents of twins, in which they share their experience on a variety of topics; sidebars filled with fascinating facts; a workbook for recording the pregnancies progress; and several appendices.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The authors bill it as a "truly epic journey": the voyage from pregnancy through a lifetime of parenting twins. Perinatologists Connie L. Agnew, M.D., and Alan H. Klein, M.D. (also a pediatrician) incorporate a winning combination of helpful facts, educated opinion, and candid roundtable discussions--a combination that nicely maps the journey's first course for expectant parents of multiples.

Those readers familiar with the ever-popular What to Expect When You're Expecting--a mainstay for first-time parents--will be delighted to see a similar format employed here. The pregnancy and birth chapters break down into chunks of gestational weeks, outlining basic fetal development, mom's changing body, and special "transitional" issues common to each trimester. These chapters are further enhanced by pencil illustrations of the mother's pregnant body (with a peekaboo view of the developing twins) and roundtable discussions involving the authors and a panel of twins' parents.

The book's second half delves into getting through that first, tough year. While ample information on labor and delivery overlaps both halves of the book, this second section spends more time focused on the growing babies and the challenges new parents face in their relationships with their children and with each other. Again, the roundtable discussions prove quite valuable; it's always nice to read encouraging words from those who have lived through preterm delivery, sleep deprivation, and older sibling regression. Growth charts and a helpful resource guide of organizations, periodicals, and retail outlets round out the package. --Liane Thomas

From Library Journal

In the United States, twin births have increased by 42 percent since 1980, spurred by the increasing use of fertility treatments and the advancing age of many mothers. Agnew, a perinatologist and leading specialist in the delivery of high-risk infants, and Klein, a specialist in high-risk infant care, have written one of the first books on twins by medical professionals. In conversational style, the authors cover comprehensively pregnancy, birth, the postpartum experience, and the first year of life. Interviews with parents of twins lend a fascinating insight to the topics discussed. Also particularly helpful are the detailed descriptions of the type of medical care necessary during pregnancy and the babies' first year and the resource guide at the back of the book. This excellent resource is recommended for all collections.?Stacey Hathaway, Fordham Health Sciences Lib., Wright State Univ., Dayton
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Collins; 1st edition (October 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062734601
• ISBN-13: 978-0062734600
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,234,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Twins & Multiples

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best up-to-date book for parents and families of twins., March 6, 1999

By 

Patricia A. Frechtman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twins!: Expert Advice from two practicing physicians on pregnancy, birth and the first y (Paperback)

At last! A book that I can recommend to the hundreds of couples who are hungry for information about the special pregnancy they are going though. This is a positive, well written book that parents will turn to again and again. The Elizabeth Noble book is scary and so negative. This easy to read book is not only a joy to read from cover to cover, but also well indexed so parents can go directly to the chapters they need. Most parents expecting twins cannot find material,let alone information that is both practical and up to date. I publish childrens books for families of multiples and receive up to 30 calls a day which mostly consist of Moms and Dads in shock over the news that they are having twins or more! This book fills an important need and I am happy to send my customers to buy it. What a great shower gift and along with the authors 2nd book, "Caring for your Premature Baby," these parents will be fully prepared to be knowledgeable concerning this wonderful time in their lives. I only wish that it had been available when my daughter was expecting her twins. Don't walk,run and get this book,read it and then relax,enjoy this special time. God Bless you all.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Offers alot of easily accessible information, July 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Twins!: Expert Advice from two practicing physicians on pregnancy, birth and the first y (Paperback)

My husband and I are the parents of four month old twins and got this book about a month before our daughters were born (at 36 weeks). It has been great! We bought the Elizabeth Noble book early on in the pregnancy and did not find it uplifting and, while it had a lot of information, the tone was generally negative and judgmental. I happen to be nursing both of my babies but it was clear to me that, while the writers of TWINS! were encouraging breast feeding, they were also trying to support mothers who chose or need to bottle feed. I felt like TWINS! offered lots of information (we really liked the list of questions to ask a potential pediatrician and I think it helped us make the right choice). The focus on seeing yourself and your doctors as members of a team was extremely helpful. I still refer to the book alot and would recommend it to any expectant parents of twins. I give it four stars. How about sequels for the toddler and elementary years?

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resource for pregnancy and beyond, January 29, 2000

By 

"jodyx3" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twins!: Expert Advice from two practicing physicians on pregnancy, birth and the first y (Paperback)

I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with fraternal twins and this book has been a great help to me. The book's monthly sections on fetal and maternal progress are missing from many twins books, and are a god-send to anyone expecting twins or more. I especially appreciate the sections on how to make your other children comfortable with the idea of new babies during your pregnancy, and how to include them in your new family structure post-partum.

The only problems I have with this book are pretty minor. I would've appreciated longer, more detailed sections on pregnancy itself and less of the forum discussions by parents of twins. Although interesting, the forum discussions are far less useful to me than hard facts. Also, for a book on twins, there is a real lack of information on the possible complications a mother of twins may face during her pregnancy. When I suffered an abruption of the placenta 3 weeks ago, it was not this book that helped me one bit, but my old standard What to Expect When You're Expecting. I really feel this book could be improved by a section on pregnancy complications.

For anyone who is expecting twins, I would definitely suggest you purchase this book. I would also recommend that you buy a good book on high risk pregnancies as well.