Q: My 26 years old wife is pregnant with twins. She has undergone IUI as fertility treatment. She is into 12th week of her pregnancy and has a little pain in lower abdomen. What precautions should she take?

A:She must take plenty of rest, avoid lifting weights - like wet clothes, heavy books, bags, etc, avoid coitus, in the last three months of pregnancy. If there is anaemia, she must be treated with iron rich diet and iron tablets. Any episodes of infection, especially of the urinary tract must be treated very soon with antibiotics. If there are episodes of pain abdomen, along with uterine hardening, then taking tablet Duvadilon retard, after prescribing by doctor should help. Travel and mental stress should be avoided. These are measure that can be taken to prevent preterm labour. Ultrasound examinations in the fifth month and later in the ninth month too will guide regarding fetal growth, type of delivery and chance of premature labour. Regular antenatal checkups for any complications every three to 4 weeks in the beginning and then every two weeks till the last month and then every week after 36 weeks is very important for maternal as well as fetal well being.