Related Experiment Videos
Paediatric care of twins
1Multiple Births Foundation, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital, London, UK.
Insights
Caring for twins and triplets presents unique challenges, including emotional, physical, and financial stresses. Early pediatric care and support services are crucial for addressing potential issues like prematurity, low birthweight, and developmental delays in multiple births.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Family Support Services
Background:
- Multiple births (twins, triplets) often involve significant parental stress.
- Infants from multiple births have increased risks for prematurity, low birthweight, and developmental delays.
- Existing support systems may not fully address the multifaceted needs of families with multiple births.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges faced by parents of multiples.
- To emphasize the importance of early and specialized pediatric care.
- To introduce existing support structures for families with multiple births.
Main Methods:
- Review of common challenges in multiple births.
- Discussion of the timing and scope of pediatric interventions.
- Description of support services offered by the Multiple Births Foundation and Twins Clinics.
Main Results:
- Parents experience emotional, physical, and financial stresses.
- Children from multiple births are at higher risk for prematurity, low birthweight, and language delay.
- Specialized clinics and parent volunteer support are available.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric care for multiples should commence from prenatal diagnosis.
- Comprehensive support, including specialized clinics and peer support, is vital for families with multiple births.
- Addressing the unique needs of multiple births improves outcomes and parental well-being.
Abstract:
For many parents, the joy of having twins and triplets is reduced by the unexpected emotional as well as physical and financial stresses which they experience with children who may suffer from prematurity and low birthweight, and who have a higher risk of language delay and disability. Paediatric care should start from the time of ultrasound diagnosis. The Multiple Births Foundation holds regular meetings for expectant parents. Twins Clinics are held in three centres in the UK as well as three special clinics (Growth, Supertwins and Bereavement), where families may discuss problems relating to the twinship as well as sharing their experiences with parent volunteers.