By Linda Jones, editor of Twins,
Triplets & More magazine July 2002

A heart-felt plea on behalf
of parents of multiple birth
children - think before you open your mouth to tell them for the zillionth time in a week 'You've got your hands full!'

Twins, triplets and more are big news. Scarcely a day goes by without a news story concerning multiple births.

Journalists love to discuss the 'weirdness' of twins - is it true they have a sixth sense? Can they really fool potential admirers and cheat in exams because they look so alike? 'Double the trouble' scream the headlines and I stifle a yawn.

And the cliched assumptions don't stop there. Every mum of twins will tell you that venturing out in the early days is a mission impossible - hampered by battalions of curious on-lookers armed with ridiculous and often downright rude questions.

'Which is the naughty one?' They inquire. 'Did you have IVF?' 'Ooh, I'm glad it's you and not me!' they exclaim. In the supermarket, I would be a rich lady indeed if I had a fiver for every time someone quipped 'Did you buy one and get one free?' Just like an off-duty Chris Tarrant being told '...We don't want to give you that!' I smile sweetly as if it's the wittiest, most original comment I've ever heard.

I wish people could think more carefully about the realities of having two babies at once. It can be a daunting experience. Twins and especially triplets are very often born prematurely and frequently need special care. Mums of multiples are more prone to postnatal depression. The financial impact is extremely stressful and the emotional and practical implications can seem overwhelming.

I hope that during Twins, Triplets & More Week and beyond that when someone is tempted to approach a mum of twins and say 'You've got your hands full', they may offer to help instead.

Twins, Triplets & More Week, promoted by Tamba - The Twins and Multiple Births Association - runs from 01-07 July 2002.

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