National Multiple Birth Awareness Month is a month-long observance in April that aims to raise awareness about the unique joys and challenges faced by families with multiples, such as twins, triplets, quadruplets, and higher-order multiples. The observance also aims to recognize and celebrate the strength and resilience of families with multiples and to promote education and research into the special needs and issues faced by multiple-birth families.
During this month, organizations and individuals may organize events, campaigns, and educational activities to raise awareness about the experiences of multiple-birth families and to provide support to these families.
It is recommended that people expecting multiples give birth with a team of healthcare professionals who are experienced in managing multiple-birth pregnancies and deliveries. This team may include obstetricians, midwives, and neonatologists, who can monitor the mother and babies closely and intervene if necessary to ensure a safe and healthy delivery.
6 ways family and friends can support new parents with multiple births.
There are many ways that family and friends can support people with multiple births during the postpartum period, including:
- Offer practical help: Offer to help with household chores, cooking, grocery shopping, or running errands. These tasks can become overwhelming for parents of multiples, especially during the early weeks and months of postpartum recovery.
- Provide emotional support: Listen to the parents’ concerns and offer encouragement and emotional support. Having a support system in place can help alleviate stress and anxiety and can make a big difference in the parents’ overall well-being.
- Help with childcare: Offer to watch the babies for a few hours to allow the parents to rest or attend to other responsibilities. Alternatively, offer to take care of older siblings or help with transportation to and from appointments.
- Bring food or meals: Prepare and bring over meals that can be easily reheated or frozen for later. This can be a great help to parents who are busy caring for multiple babies.
- Give the parents a break: Offer to watch the babies for a few hours or overnight so that the parents can have some time to themselves or to spend time with each other.
- Offer to help with lactation: Breastfeeding/ bodyfeeding multiples can be challenging, so offering to help with lactation, such as holding a baby while the parent nurses or bringing water and snacks during a nursing session, can be a big help.
Overall, the most important thing is to be supportive, understanding, and patient, and to offer help in whatever way is most needed and appreciated by the new parents.