Letters From Parents - Dr. Barbara Luke

Letters From Parents

Since the first edition of When You’re Expecting Twin, Triplets, or Quads was published in 1999, many families have written to me (or posted reviews on Amazon.com) describing how the nutrition and health guidelines have helped their twin, triplet, or quadruplet pregnancies. The letters below are just a few (I’ve edited them to protect each family’s privacy). I’d be very interested to hear your story, too—just send me an email at bluke@drbarbaraluke.com. Keep in mind that nationally the average twin is born at 5 lb 2 oz at 35 weeks, the average triplet is born at 3 lb 10 oz at 32 weeks, and the average quad is born at 2 lb 11 oz at 29 weeks.

“…Here is my letter of thanks to you. At 39 years of age, I found myself pregnant with twins—a surprise after three singletons. I took your research to heart and worked very hard to drink water, eat lots of protein, took my One-A-Day multivitamins, and vitamins C & E, omega-3s, and got lots of rest. Also, the major point of gaining weight early. I tried my best and I think your plan made the difference in the health of my twins. Thanks to your work, I gave birth at 37 weeks to healthy boy/girl twins weighing 7 lb 8 oz and 7 lb 5 oz. I had no trouble with high blood pressure, diabetes, or preeclampsia. I truly do credit your book for my successful pregnancy, and I recommend it to every woman I meet who is expecting twins. Thank you for the work that you do. Now, at 21 months, my babies are doing wonderfully. every day is filled with surprises as their development skyrockets. Vocabulary, sentences, problem-solving, empathy, humor... It is all amazing to watch.”
“…I just wanted to tell you how much I value your book. When I first found out I was pregnant with twins at the "advanced maternal age" of 35, I was scared of what lay ahead and searched for a book to advise me through the pregnancy. It is because of following the advice given in your book that I recently delivered my fraternal boy twins via a planned C-section at 38 weeks, without any premature labor, at birthweights of 6 lbs 8 oz. and 6 lbs 5 oz. Thank you so much for writing this book! I referred to it almost every day of the pregnancy and will recommend it to anyone else who is expecting multiples.”
“…We just wanted to forward a note of thanks. We found out that we were expecting triplets early on through IVF and picked up her book. It really made us focus on diet, eating the right quantities, getting the right calories, drinking a ton of water, and increasing weight. Between the countless high risk appointments, no one brought up the importance of the diet. We delivered via c-section at 35 weeks and 2 days--- not because of pre-term labor but because it was just getting too painful. The babies were born at 5lbs 12 oz, 5lbs 4oz and 4lbs 9.6oz. The smallest one was in the NICU because of a little fluid but was released within two days to the nursery. All three babies came home with us four days later during the regular discharge process. Thanks again for this excellent resource.”
“…This is a note in praise of Dr Luke's book and her diet.  I closely followed the diet laid out for a healthy triplet pregnancy and managed to go a full 36 weeks with my triplets.  They weighed in at 6 lb 8 oz, 5 lb 12oz and 5 lb 7 oz, and had no health issues—they came home with me after just four days rooming in with me at the hospital.  No NICU time, no tubes, nothing - they were perfectly healthy little ones.  I had an amazingly helpful maternal fetal medicine doctor, who after some educating on my part, signed on to support me in using Dr Luke's diet.  I gained a total of 81 pounds over the 36 weeks and after just 5 months, only have 7 of it left to lose.  My iron levels stayed high through the pregnancy and my overall health and energy have remained high.  I am also nursing my babies and feel that Dr Luke's diet started me off on the right foot with nutrition stores and energy to tackle that challenge as well.  I do give this diet credit for my success story.  Thank you SO much for your part in my amazing little blessings.”
“…I wanted to just send you a brief but very sincere thank you. Your book was recommended to me six years ago when I was carrying triplets.  I feel that our trio, carried to 34 weeks and 4 days and born at 4 lbs 9 oz; 4 lbs 11 oz; and 4 lbs 12 oz, were born healthy and strong and requiring little but feed and grow time due, in large part, to your recommendations on diet for higher order multiple pregnancies.  My ob and perinatologist regarded the nutrition as almost a non-issue, but I worked closely with a nutritionist and insisted that we follow your recommendations as much as possible (while controlling gestational diabetes).  Thank you so much!  My children are thriving!”
“…My twins were born 12 months ago, big and healthy!! I wanted to THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the advice you give in your book. When I learned I was pregnant with twins, I was terrified: my 2 older children, even though perfectly healthy, were born IUGR at 4lb 4oz and 3 lb 15 oz. Everyday I tried to eat the "Top 25 Food All-Stars" listed in your guide. Eggs and smoothies were my best friends and helped me gain 50 lbs (I am now back to my petite 95lbs)!! I asked my OB-Gyn to be on maternal leave at 26 weeks which allowed me to rest as much as I could. My husband and friends helped a lot and at 37 weeks my twin boys were born via c-section weighing respectively 5 lb 4 oz and 5 lb 8 oz!! They are good, happy babies, I am blessed.”