Pregnant mums don't get help or advice they need for twins

Parents of multiple births are being denied access to vital information that would help them through pregnancy and child birth.

Two thirds of parents who give birth to twins, or more babies, are not getting enough help to give them and their children the best start in life.

The survey was run by Tamba, a national organisation that works with parents and health care professionals to support and educate families with multiple births, and coincides with the annual Twins, Triplets and More Week.

Of the mothers who responded to the 2008 Tamba Health and Lifestyle survey, just 36 per cent were offered any multiple-specific parent education sessions during their pregnancy. Those that did were generally one-off sessions organised by the hospital.

Pregnant women who did not have the opportunity to attend such sessions missed out on important information about how to identify and avoid multiple pregnancy complications.

Tamba President, Judi Linney MBE, a former midwife, Health Visitor and Public Health Director, said: “Having twins or multiple births can and should be a joyful experience, and the Tamba Healthy Multiple Pregnancy Guide gives expectant parents the information and reassurance they need to prepare for a happy and healthy outcome for all of the family. The Guide, which is available free of charge at www.tamba.org.uk, sets the standard of advice that all parents should receive when preparing for a multiple birth.

“We look forward to working with NICE on developing national guidelines on the management of multiple pregnancies, and call on the Government to improve access to multiple-specific parent education classes.”

The Tamba Twinline is open 10am – 1pm and 7pm-10pm on 0800 138 0509 and the website is at: www.tamba.org.uk