Guest Author - Kris Bigalk

Growing and delivering a set of twins can affect a woman's body in semi-permanent, though usually reversible, ways. Here are some common problems women face in the year after delivering twins.

Hernias
After losing some of my pregnancy weight, I noticed that my belly bulged out, and that I had a protrusion from my usually "innie" belly button. After being blown off by two doctors, I finally convinced one of them to look at my belly button, and she agreed I had a hernia. I met with a surgeon, who agreed that the bulge in my upper belly was another hernia, 5 cm away from the first one.

Hernias happen when the abdominal wall is stretched, and a hole develops. Like air bulging in a weak spot of an inner tube, the intestines that are usually encased in the abdominal wall "pooch" out through the hole or thin spot. If you have a hernia, you'll notice a bulge that may change when you cough or move. This is correctable with surgery, during which the doctor covers the weak spot with surgical mesh and sews it shut. For more information on hernias, see the link at the end of the article.

Thyroid Problems

Gaining weight? Feeling like you're down and tired all the time? Or maybe you're losing weight too quickly, feel like you're all sped up, and your eyes are bulging a bit. These symptoms, on either end of the "energy" scale, can indicate a problem with your thyroid. As a woman's body readjusts to not being pregnant, the thyroid can either over or under-produce hormones, affecting the balance in a woman's body. Either condition is treatable. If you suspect you have a thyroid problem, your doctor can conduct blood tests to find out, and treat the problem. For more information on thyroid problems, see the link at the end of the article.

Post-partum Depression

The symptoms of depression can be mild or severe—from a general feeling of anxiety and being ill-at-ease to a continuous feeling of utter hopelessness. Mothers of multiples and women who have had their children using infertility treatments are even more likely than the general population to suffer from PPD. Sometimes post-partum depression takes awhile to appear—as long as one year after the babies are born. Depression is also linked to low thyroid (see above). Post-partum depression is a chemical imbalance that can be treated, and your own safety and the safety of your family may be at stake. See the link at the end of the article for a checklist on depression, and if you suspect you may be depressed, see your doctor immediately.