| Read news MOST/Preemiecare news archives Most COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH study TO DATE of 1300 multiple birth Mothers develops first-ever profile of average multiple birth mother and baby
Study Reveals Findings Relating to Conception, Pregnancy, Delivery, Breastfeeding and Post-Partum Depression, Signaling Need for Increased Ancillary Support and Resources for Multiple Birth Mothers and Families
City, State – June 14, 2005 – Mothers of Supertwins (MOST), an international non-profit support network for families that have or are expecting triplets, quadruplets or more, today released the findings of an extensive proprietary research study on issues relating to higher order multiple births – the most comprehensive survey of its kind to date.
The MOST Medical Birth Survey, a longitudinal study, begun in 1988, of data on 1300 multiple birth mothers between the ages of 19 and 48 years old, today released the first-ever profiles of the average multiple birth mother and baby, including the average height, weight, age and weight gained by mothers of multiples and the average gestation, birth weights, one-year survival rates and post-partum time spent in the hospital by the mother and multiple birth infants. Additional key survey findings include:
By comparison, the average age of an American woman at the time of her first birth is 25.1 years. Her median weight gain is 30 pounds, 8 ounces and 81 percent of babies are born after 37 weeks. The average birth weight for all singletons born is 7 lbs, 6 ounces. (Source: Birth data for 2002, National Vital Statistics Report, Center for Disease Control and Prevention)
Maureen A. Doolan Boyle, Executive Director of MOST, said, "As the most extensive and comprehensive study of multiple birth mothers to date, the MOST Medical Birth Survey is tremendously important in our efforts to educate multiple birth families so that they can make informed healthcare decisions during pregnancy and several years thereafter. The findings we uncovered will also help medical professionals, as well as the general population, gain a better understanding of the unique aspects of multiple birth pregnancies and parenting so that families’ needs can be better served.”
She continued, “We hope that our results will encourage higher order multiple birth families to participate in such research surveys, as they provide much-needed insight for the continuation of support, education and the wealth of resources that MOST provides for families during pregnancy, infancy, toddlerhood and beyond. This is just the beginning in terms of understanding the issues surrounding multiple births, of which 7,000 occur in the U.S. each year. We are also hopeful that these preliminary results will encourage organizations to donate toward our efforts to continue to gather this important data.”
The MOST Medical Birth Survey also revealed pregnancy and one-year survival rates for multiple birth infants as follows: 98.8% of triplets; 96.8% of quadruplets; 90.5% of quintuplets; 100% of sextuplets.
Dr. Kelly Ross, Pediatric Hospitalist at the St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine and Director of Research and the Professional Advisory Board Chairman of MOST, added, “We believe this data will reassure mothers who are pregnant with triplets, quads and more, that a healthy outcome is not only possible but represents the majority of women pregnant with multiples. While higher order multiple births are without question more complicated than single births, with the help of a perinatologist experienced in multiple births, the majority of women give birth to infants who grow to be healthy and developmentally normal children.”
Percentage of Mothers Who Breastfeed Multiples Increases With Number of Multiples Born
When it comes to breastfeeding, the MOST survey revealed that 70 percent of mothers planned to breastfeed their multiple birth infants. The survey also showed that the percentage of mothers who breastfed increased with the number of multiples born. For example, 100 percent of mothers of sextuplets breastfed their babies, compared with 73.8 percent of mothers of triplets, 75.5 percent of mothers of quadruplets and 78.6 percent for mothers of quintuplets.
“We are encouraged by the high rate of breastfeeding for multiples uncovered by our survey. As a result, MOST recommends that hospitals offer opportunities for mothers to breastfeed and receive transitional nursing experiences prior to the infants’ discharge from the hospital. This will help mothers of multiples gain a positive breastfeeding experience and successfully supply breast milk beyond the minimal three-month period,” Boyle added. “We also advocate support resources such as lactation consultants who are well-versed in premature infant and higher order multiple birth parenting as well as referrals to support networks and other parents of premature multiple birth infants.”
Twenty-Nine Percent of Mothers Surveyed Suffered from Symptoms of Post-Partum Depression Following Birth of Multiples; Nearly Half of Those Who Reported Thoughts of Suicide or Hurting Selves Did Not Seek Treatment
MOST also conducted a separate survey on Post-Partum Depression from January through March of 2003 in coordination with the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc.(NOMOTC). Both surveys received a large number of responses, with 587 women responding to the MOST survey, and 758 responding to the NOMOTC survey. The statistics below apply only to the 587 MOST responses.
The survey revealed that 29 percent of mothers reported depression following the birth of their multiples. The highest percentage of mothers affected by symptoms of PPD, 71 percent, is in the 18-24 age range, followed by 33 percent in the over 50 age range. The group least affected by PPD was mothers in the 41-45 age range at 19 percent. Of the 8.8 percent of survey respondents who reported thoughts of death, suicide, or hurting themselves or others, nearly half (48 percent) never sought professional treatment.
Additionally, mothers of quintuplets reported the highest incidence of isolation (78 percent), compared to the other multiple birth types. In comparison, 39 percent of mothers of triplets, 32 percent of mothers of quadruplets and 50 percent of mothers of sextuplets reported feelings of isolation after delivery.
The employment status of mothers was another factor in the percentage of those who experienced PPD after delivery. One hundred percent of unemployed mothers reported they felt isolated, compared to only 23 percent who worked full-time outside the home and 27 percent who worked full-time inside the home. Forty percent of stay-at-home mothers in the survey experienced feelings of isolation.
Boyle stated, “With our survey results illustrating how Post-Partum Depression affects so many women, with many of the most severe cases not seeking professional help, MOST believes it is essential to provide mothers who may be at risk for PPD with a wealth of information and support services. Our organization offers online email networks, web site forums, parenting packages, a quarterly magazine, local volunteers and telephone support to mothers prior to delivery and up to several years after giving birth. We also strongly feel there is a need for increased ancillary support and referral services at the pediatric and family health care provider level as mothers typically visit those doctors’ offices more frequently than their OB-GYNs during the first few years after birth.”
Survey Reveals Mothers in Their Thirties Average Longer Gestations and Higher Birth Weights than Mothers in Twenties and Forties
The MOST Medical Birth survey found that mothers in their thirties delivered their multiples after longer average gestations and at higher infant birth weights than mothers in their twenties or forties. Mothers under 30 years old delivered at an average of 32.1 weeks gestation with infants weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces in their thirties delivered at an average of 33.1 weeks gestation with infants weighing 4 pounds, 9 ounces on average. Mothers forty and over delivered at an average of 31.8 weeks gestation with infants weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces on average.
MOST Medical Birth Survey Methodology The MOST Medical Birth Survey is a longitudinal study of higher order multiple births (triplets or more) started in 1988, which collects data pertaining to the socio-demographic status, medical, gynecologic, and obstetric history, pregnancy, perinatal and neonatal events of mothers who give birth to multiple infants. The survey also gathers data on breastfeeding and ongoing developmental and medical challenges in multiple birth children. The database of responses currently contains more than 1300 participants and in excess of 4000 infants.
A full report of the MOST Medical Birth Survey results can be obtained by visiting the MOST web site at http://www.mostonline.org/research.htm.
About MOST Mothers of Supertwins (MOST) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1987 by several mothers of triplets on Long Island, New York. The organization serves as a support network of families who have or are expecting triplets, quadruplets or more – the word “supertwins” is a medical term that was commonly used in the 1970-80s to describe pregnancies of more than twins. MOST provides information, resources, empathy, education and support during pregnancy, infancy, toddlerhood, school aged and beyond.
MOST also conducts annual medical and psycho/social research projects in order to learn more about its membership’s specific needs. Through these national projects, MOST not only gains insights into how to better serve its membership, but also helps educate the medical and ancillary support communities who cater to the unique needs of higher order multiple birth families.
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For more information or to donate to MOST contact: www.MOSTonline.org or call 1.631.859.1110 |
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