Club for multiple birth mothers

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 5, 25 June 1985, Page 6

Club for multiple birth mothers

Mothers of twins, triplets and quadruplets living in Waiouru will soon be able to join a club and discuss amongst themselves the many problems which are peculiar to multiple birth mothers. The club has been formed by Kate Hindle, herself a mother of twins. Before coming to Waiouru, Kate lived in Christchurch where she was a member of the Multiple Birth Association. She now wants to pass on the benefits she received by being a member to other multiple birth mothers. "A lot of people with just one baby don't realise how difficult it is with twins, so it is really good to be able to talk to other people who have been through it and see how they coped." Kate believes Waiouru is a good place to set up a branch "because husbands are often away and, especially during winter when mothers can't get out very much, it is good to be able to

ring or see someone in the same situation and ask for help." The branch will not be restricted to multiple birth mothers who live in Waiouru. "As long. as mothers are prepared to travel they can belong," she says. Kate held her first meeting last weekend and six mothers of twins are already interested injoining. The group plans to meet monthly on a Saturday at the Waiouru Health Clinic. As well as providing emotional support for mothers, the group will provide a centre for mothers to exchange clothes "as it is so expensive clothing twins," says Kate. The Christchurch branch invites guest speakers to meetings to talk on topics such as microwaves and the St. John Ambulance. "Things mothers are normally interested in but never get the time to go and find out about." If the Waiouru group gets large enough, Kate plans to ask speakers to their meetings too. Kate is keen to obtain books on multiple births and hopes to persuade the library to order some. She is also receiving help from the Waiouru Hospital. Some of the problems with twins involve feeding, coping if the babies have different sleeping habits, and even fitting a double pram or pushchair through doors and the supermarket aisle! Twins can be a lot more trouble than a single child as one leads the other on, says Kate. "Single children tend

to stay around their mother's feet a lot more, but twins go off and have you on a bit. " Kate has had an article published in the Women's Weekly magazine in which she wrote about the problems with multiple birth children. The objective of the Multiple Births Association is to provide information and advice to those directly involved with the care and raising of multiple birth children.

The association also initiates and promotes research into multiple births and acts as a liason between New Zealand clubs and overseas multiple birth clubs. Kate and her husband, Ian, a driver in the Transport Corps, moved to Waiouru from Christchurch earlier this year. Their twin daughters Phillipa and Rachael are nearly 3 '/£-yearsold.