After trying to conceive a baby for more than 12 months it is generally suggested that a couple consult their medical professional to perform a few tests to determine the cause of the couple not achieving a successful pregnancy. However, if the woman is over the age of 35, testing can be requested after six months, as fertility has begun it’s natural decline by this age.

The first step for you to take is for both partners to have some testing done to determine where the problem lies.

Generally the male partner is tested first as infertility testing for a man is less invasive than for a woman. Both a blood test and a semen analysis are performed. The semen analysis will tell you about the quantity and health of the male partner’s sperm while the blood test will show if there are any concerns with his hormone levels.

If there are any concerns with the male partner’s tests, it is likely that the female partner is not tested and the couple will work with the information they have already gained. There are times when sperm count and quality can be improved by diet and / or surgery and hormonal issues can be treated as well. However there are times when either the man’s body is not producing the quantity or quality of sperm required for no apparent reason. In these cases it is recommended that the couple look into assisted reproduction therapy (ART).

In the even of the male partner’s tests coming back all clear, the female partner will begin her testing, usually this will involve determining if she is ovulating. The doctor may request that the woman charts her cycle for a few months so she can see if she is ovulating that way. Alternatively, the doctor may request blood tests and ultrasounds at various times of the woman’s cycle to see if her hormones are working correctly and to see if her ovaries are working correctly.

If these tests come back showing that the female partner is ovulating, there are further investigations started. These will check on the health of the woman’s reproductive system and are quite invasive. A hysterosalpingography involves dye being injected into the woman’s uterus through her vagina, she is then given x-rays to determine whether there are any blockages in her fallopian tubes that are stopping the eggs from moving where they need to be. A laparoscopy looks at the health of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus and can determine if there are any issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or if there are any physical abnormalities in the organs investigated.

After testing is completed and an issue is found with either partner, the doctor will help to couple decide which direction to take next, usually this depends on the problem that has presented. Unfortunately though, up to 10% of couples that are tested for infertility in Australia will be diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” which means that they have not conceived a child within 12 months of having unprotected sex, but all of the tests rule out any of the usual problems.

There a variety of options available these days to overcome infertility, such as inter-uterine insemination, IVF, egg or sperm donations or even adoption. Once a diagnosis has been made these options are assessed until the most suitable one is found for your particular case.

Related posts:

1. Female Infertility

A very helpful way to get to know your body and to learn the best time to conceive a baby is by charting your cycle.

Charting your cycle involves a three steps, the main one is taking your temperature every morning, followed by observing cervical mucus and other cervical changes. To start with, you have to understand why you are taking your temperature.

Over the course of your cycle your basal body temperature changes according to what hormones are in your system. Your temperature starts off low, rises after ovulation and will then either go down to signal your period starting or remain high to signal a possible pregnancy. If you are charting your cycle, you can see graphically where your temperature is and what part of your cycle you are at.

Taking Your Basal Body Temperature

To check your basal body temperature it must be done first thing in the morning before you rise from bed and even before you speak. Set your alarm to wake at the same time each morning & before doing anything else after it goes off, still your thermometer in your mouth (or under your arm or you can even check your temperature vaginally if you choose). Any sort of thermometer will work, but the best type has two decimal places as they are the most accurate in showing any subtle temperature changes.

Record your temperature either on a piece of graph paper or on charting software or websites, such as Fertility Friend.

As the month goes on, you will see that your temperature changes with ovulation and becomes biphasic, which means there are two phases, a lower temperature phase prior to ovulation and a higher temperature phase after ovulation.

It might take a few months to get used to how your temperatures work, but you will start to see patterns emerging about when you will ovulate and how long your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and the end of your cycle) lasts.

The important thing to note is that once the temperature rise has occurred, ovulation has occurred and it is more than likely too late to conceive a baby. You need to be having intercourse prior to the temperature rise, so it is important to chart other ovulation indicators when charting your cycle.

Checking for Cervical Mucus

The next step to helping you understand your cycle is charting your cervical mucus changes.

Like with your temperature, your cervical mucus changes depending on what hormones are dominating at a certain time. Your mucus will change from sticky, to creamy, to water and finally, the mucus at ovulation is named egg white cervical mucus due to it’s consistency being much like that of an egg white.

The best way to check your cervical mucus is to simply look on the toilet tissue when you wipe and then note on your chart, the quality and consistency. At first it may be a bit hard to distinguish between the different types of mucus, but after a little while it becomes second nature.

When recording your cervical mucus on your cycle charting page or software, always record the most fertile mucus that you note for the day. For example you may have creamy mucus in the morning, but then watery mucus in the evening. It’s best to record the watery mucus as your body might be gearing up that night to ovulate.

Observing Cervical Changes

A third way to add to your chart is to observe the changes in your cervix. Some people are uncomfortable about checking this fertility sign, so rest assured that it is a secondary sign, the main two are your temperature and cervical mucus. However if you would like to check your cervix, following are the details on how to do so.

To check your cervix you will need to insert a very clean finger into your vaigna. You will feel a small round object (your cervix) that will have a small hole in it. Notice how it feels.

Prior to ovulation you should be able to feel your cervix quite easily as it starts out quite low in your vagina. Your cervix will feel hard, a little like the tip of your nose and the cervix opening will be closed when you are not in your fertile period. As you come closer to ovulation it will move up higher in your vagina and be quite hard to reach, now it should feel very soft, a lot like your lips. The opening will also be quite noticeable, as your cervix opens up at ovulation to allow the sperm to make their way through. After ovulation the opening will close again and your cervix will go back to being hard like your nose. In pregnancy the cervix stays very high and will become out of reach fairly quickly after ovulation, if conception hasn’t taken place your cervix will move down again ready for your next period to start.

Record your cervical observations on your chart as well.

After charting your cycle for a little while you will start to see some patterns emerging. Perhaps you don’t ovulate on the standard, day 14, maybe it’s earlier or maybe it’s a few days later. No two women are exactly alike and you will see that by browsing through a few different charts.

Special Offers
Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Conception
2. Menstrual Cycle
3. Conceiving

Most people think that pregnancy signs are unmistakable and many women ‘just know’ when they are pregnant. But other times, pregnancy can come as quite a shock and those who have ‘symptoms’ were not even aware. There are a few common symptoms you could have to show you are pregnant.

The most obvious sign is if you miss your menstrual period. Although this is a common sign something is not as normal, it is not the only sign to say that you may be pregnant. Women can skip their cycle for a number of reasons and it may not be that you are pregnant.

Nausea is another common symptom women get whilst pregnant. Morning sickness is common among half of pregnant women and can occur at any time of the day. The sickness is usually brought on suddenly and can last for the first few weeks.

Another early sign of pregnancy is tender nipples and breasts. This tender felling usually disappears once your hormone levels have become accustomed to your body and the baby begins to grow.

If you have frequent urination and a high body temperature, it could also mean you are pregnant. Women often experience more urination as the changes in hormone levels produce the need to go. Body temperature may be high due to an increase at ovulation and may stay high for the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Pregnancy Signs
2. Bleeding in Pregnancy

When you’re trying to conceive a child there may be the wish in the back of your mind for a certain gender. Of course everyone wants to have a healthy and happy baby, but sometimes we desire a specific gender and there are actually ways to go about swaying your chances of conceiving either a boy or girl.

The main option for gender swaying is through the Shettles method and while it’s users sometimes claim up to a 90% success rate it’s not a guarantee that you will get the gender that you so desperately want. Like all things in life, at the end of the day the gender of your baby really is up to chance, but there’s no harm in trying right?

The Shettles method is based on timing intercourse and using certain sexual positions for conceiving either gender. There are other methods that you can use, including diet changes, that will aid in conceiving either a boy or girl. Below I will describe some techniques for you to try and sway your chances toward conceiving either gender.

To Conceive a Boy.

According to Shettles, you need to have sex as close to ovulation as possible to conceive a boy. The sperm that carry the Y-Chromosome (and make boy babies) are much faster than the X-Chromosome sperm so the closer to ovulation that they are released the better. They are also more vulnerable & weak, which means that even though they are fast, if the “boy sperm” arrive at the correct place too soon, they are likely to die off before the egg is ready.

Shettles theory also says that deeper penetration is useful for conceiving a boy as this allows the faster Y-Chromosome sperm to arrive at the egg first and also gives the weaker sperm a shorter overall journey. In addition, the area closest to the cervix (the opening of the uterus) is less acidic, which is the sort of environment that “boy sperm” prefer.

The mother’s diet can also impact on the environment within the vagina, which will favour either gender. A diet high in potassium and sodium creates an alkaline environment which is best for boy conception. Dried apricots, any types of beans & legumes as well as potatoes are great high potassium foods. Whereas brown bread, omlettes, canned fish and camembert cheese are high in sodium.

As well as trying the Shettles Method and diet changes, there are two things you can do at the time of intercourse to help conceive a boy. Female orgasm makes the vagina more alkaline, so give this a go if you want to conceive a boy. Dad can also help by having a caffeinated drink prior to intercourse which makes the Y-Chromosome sperm more active.

To Conceive a Girl.

According to Shettles, to conceive a girl you need to have sex two and a half to three days prior to ovulation. The sperm that carry the X-Chromosome (and make girl babies) are slower than the Y-Chromosome sperm but are more resilient. “Girl sperm” last a lot longer so while they take a while to arrive in the right place, generally later than the “boy sperm” they are strong enough to last a few days inside the woman’s body to wait for the release of the egg.

Shettles says that shallow penetration favours conceiving girls as the area closest to the entrance of the vagina is more acidic. The acidic environment is more likely to inhibit the Y-Chromosome sperm & is therefore more likely to aid in the X-Chromosome sperm getting to where it needs to go with less Y-Chromosome sperm getting in the way so to speak.

Diet changes also make a difference in swaying towards a girl conception. Diets high in calcium and magnesium make the vagina more acidic, which is more conducive to a girl conception. Mum should eat foods like yoghurt, cheese, rhubarb and drink plenty of milk to increase her calcium intake, while artichokes, pine nuts, almonds and spinach are great sources of magnesium.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from BabyBuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

Related posts:

1. Chromosomes
2. Assisted Conception

There’s a lot to be said for men taking certain vitamin and mineral supplements while they are trying to conceive.

Generally, with most couples, the female partner will start taking some form of prenatal multivitamin formula (like Elevit or Blackmores Pregnancy & Breastfeeding etc) or at the least a folate supplement (like Fabfol), as soon as the couple decides to try for a baby.

More often than not the male partner continues on as before trying to conceive with little regard for changing their lifestyle or increasing their intake of certain vitamins and minerals.

These days however, there are a few options for men in the way of multivitamin supplements that claim to assist with the production of better sperm and overall general health for conception.

The first men’s fertility health supplement to be released was Menevit (in 2008), made by the same people that do the very popular Elevit for women. The key ingredients in Menevit are vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E and folic acid, along with some other vitamins that make it a good well rounded multivitamin as well as a sperm health supplement.

The alternative is SpermMax (released in 2010) which also contains folic acid and zinc, but instead of being a multivitamin it is more aimed at sexual function and decreasing stress.

As you would guess from the ingredients of both of the men’s sperm supplements above, the main ingredient is zinc. Zinc is essential making sperm and the regulation of sperm motility (how the sperm move). The recommended daily intake of zinc is 20-60mg and with so few foods that are high in zinc (oysters, veal liver, sesame seeds & low fat roast beef are the highest) it’s no wonder that men’s fertility rates have been declining in the past few years.

The other common ingredient between the two is folic acid, or folate, which is well known as a supplement for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects, but it is also beneficial for men’s sperm health as well. Research has shown that men who increase their folic acid intake have fewer abnormal sperm cells. The recommended daily intake for me is 200mg and it can be found naturally in lentils, kidney beans, broccoli and brussel sprouts, but these days there are quite a few different products that are labeled as having added folate.

Of course having a varied diet containing zinc and folate rich foods is the best way to go about things, but we all know with today’s busy lifestyle sometimes we don’t eat as well as we know we should. Sperm supplements such as Menevit and SpermMax are a great way to get the recommended daily intake when your diet is lacking in these essential sperm health vitamins & minerals. They are both simple to take, one tablet once per day, as with female prenatal vitamins they are recommended to be taken for at least a month prior to conception.

While the use of supplements for sperm health can be beneficial, they are not a guarantee to increase your sperm count or improve the health of your sperm. If you have any concerns about the health of your sperm, please see your health professional.

Related posts:

1. Sperm needs light
2. Male Infertility

If you have been lucky enough to get any advice out of your mates on what to expect from fatherhood, it probably has been that “things will change”. Instead of going in with this vague idea of doom, here is more detail on the top five things that are going to change and how to deal with them.

1. You’ll get less attention from her

As your partner grapples with being a new mum her focus will be almost entirely elsewhere. Don’t wait to be asked what to do to help, get in there and find out what she wants your role to be.

2. You might get worried about money

Going from a comfortable double income down to perhaps only surviving on your pay is something you can plan for well in advance. Waiting until you are both tired to figure out a budget will probably result in a fight. Try to sit down and agree how your household budget is going to be run.

Do your research now into if you qualify for the Baby Bonus or Paid Parental Leave using the online estimator (click here) and submit your application in advance.

3. You will be sleep-deprived

Working together on looking after your baby in the night will help you both get some sleep and hopefully result in a happier household. Many fathers send mum to bed early and do a night feed with a bottle, say approx 10pm, before hitting the sack.

4. You might be worried you are not ready to be a dad

This is a pretty natural concern and it should cheer you up to know that the instinct will kick in, at some point. Allow yourself time to feel comfortable and confident in being a dad; don’t expect it all to happen at once.

5. You won’t be able to go out with your mates as much

Remind yourself that this is temporary. As you all settle into family life plenty of opportunities to go out with your mates will reappear. Then again, and you might not believe this, but you may not want to do the things you used to.

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from babybuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

No related posts.

When getting ready for baby it can be hard to see a good buy amongst the huge range of products on the market. Not everything is essential, but some things can be very handy and can pay off if you sell them after you have finished with them.
Judging by current prices for new products and the popularity and prices being paid on www.ebay.com.au the following are four baby items that hold their value well. When you go to sell these, in good conditions, you can expect to get half to two thirds of your money back:

1. An electric breast pump: If you are breastfeeding an electric breast pump, especially a double one, will greatly speed up the process over a manual pump. These are more expensive but considering they hold their value well it is worth looking into to save you precious moments of time to hopefully give yourself a break.

2. Bumbo®: The Bumbo is a very popular specialised baby chair designed to support baby’s posture. It can be used over a long time, being much better value than items baby will grow out of or tire of quickly (e.g. a baby swing). You can use it from when baby had good head control, around three months, which is much earlier than when you can safely use most high chairs. It is light-weight and small, so it is convenient for when you wean onto solids as you can place it anywhere.

3. Grobag®: The Gro Company makes the original and still the best baby sleeping bags designed for safety, comfort and a good night sleep. They are carefully designed to reduce the chance of SIDS and to keep baby covered at night rather than kicking off her blankets. Even Grobags in not the best condition sell well second-hand.

4. Stokke Tripp Trapp®: There is a real shortage of these second-hand, probably because you will use it for years. The Tripp Trapp is a beautifully designed chair for baby that will grow with him into adulthood. It has a foot rest that moves as he needs it to and a back rest which supports him into the right position. The Tripp Trapp is quite expensive, but the long-ranging benefits you can experience with it plus the high resale value and rarity of second-hand chairs means your investment will pay off.

We've found 00.com.au to have a wonderful selection of baby products.
Click here for OO.com.au baby products

Get your baby gifts noticed with a unique gift from babybuds - lots of gifts for the new baby, new Parents, Grandparents and Siblings.

No related posts.

In the not too distant future young women could be able to drop into a bank during their lunchbreak and deposit their eggs for safe keep until they are needed in maybe 10, 20 or even 40 years later. It may sound bizarre but medics are predicting this is only a couple of years away…..

Since many women are now choosing to leave motherhood until a later stage, this revolutionary development leaves women to get on with their lives without worrying about their biological clock.

In 2002, the median age of all women giving birth in Australia was 30.2 years and the Australian Bureau of Statistics predicts this is on the rise.
Unlike previous generations, getting married and starting a family has taken a back-seat as women are now focussing on building a successful career, travelling and generally just having fun.

At 20 years old a woman’s eggs are at their best and have a one in 1000 chance of conceiving a Downs Syndrome baby. At 30 the risk of Down Syndrome is increased to one in 600 and at 40 it is one in 62.

Specialists have recently discovered a way to successfully freeze and thaw eggs without inflicting any damage. A dozen or so eggs are frozen in canisters of liquid nitrogen at minus 196 degrees celcius.

When the owner is ready to have a baby the eggs are thawed and fertilised by intracytoplasmic sperm injection , ICSI, in other words the injection of a single sperm into the egg. This has as much chance of successful fertilisation as an egg fresh from the ovaries and doctor’s are confident there is no apparent impact on the embryo’s development.

Many specialists believe the opening of “egg banks” is no more than a couple of years away.

No related posts.

Consultant pediatrician Dr Elizabeth Bryan is a leading specialist in the field of multiple pregnancies. She established the first clinic for twins in London in 1987 and works closely with families with multiple births. As founder and medical director of the Multiple Births Foundation UK and a co-founder of the Twins and Multiple Births Association, Dr Bryan is the author of more than 50 medical papers and her widely acclaimed book, Twins and Higher Multiple Births.

In medical terms the world of assisted conception and fertility treatment is still relatively new. Research is constantly being conducted to further develop assisted reproductive technology (ART) and to investigate long-term repercussions for both the children and parents concerned.

Figures indicate that as the use of ART increases, so too does the incidence of multiple births, due to the practice of multiple embryo transferral (involving the transferral of 3-10 embryos in one cycle) being routinely carried out in many countries. In the Czech Republic and Greece, more than 70% of IVF cycles still involve three or more embryos being transferred.

The result, an escalating number of higher order multiple births (triplets or more), is a key issue concerning health professionals throughout the world.

There were 3,900 multiple births registered in Australia in 2000, compared to 2,200 in 1980. Of these, 3,800 produced twins while the remaining 100 resulted in triplets or higher births. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the number of twin births has increased by 71% since 1980, and the number of triplet births has increased by 257%.

"The whole IVF scene has escalated," said Dr Bryan, during an address at Melbourne's Royal Women's Hospital.

Dr Bryan was in Australia speaking about the "emerging epidemic of multiple births" and its costs to all involved. Of greatest concern is the increase in triplet births directly related to multiple embryo transferral, she said.

In her presentation titled, "The Cost of Multiple Births - too high a price?" Dr Bryan addressed several key issues. These included the following:

Perinatal Factors

The term "perinatal" refers to the period from the 28th week of gestation to one week following delivery. Medical professionals are deeply interested in the effect that perinatal factors may have on multiple birth babies.

It has been found that many multiple birth babies suffer from intra-uterine growth retardation. In particular, the prevalence of cerebral palsy dramatically rises with triplets, said Dr Bryan. Research shows that those babies exposed to a "stormy" perinatal period are more likely to have cerebral palsy, she said.

In some cases, if one of the multiple birth babies has died during the pregnancy, there exists an increased risk of cerebral palsy in the surviving baby or babies.

It is common for women giving birth to multiples to experience delivery complications, added Dr Bryan. In many hospitals throughout the world, delivery of multiple babies culminates in a Caesarean Section.

Premature Babies

It is known that multiple birth babies are much more likely to be born pre-term, before 40 weeks. Statistics show that many twins are born around 37 weeks, although some are born much more prematurely.

In one study, 62% of twins were born at 36 weeks and beyond, but only 12% of triplets and 7% of quadruplets, were born beyond 36 weeks gestation. Incidentally, multiple pregnancies extending beyond 41 weeks are known to increase the risk of perinatal problems occurring.

Birth Weight

Another concern is the incidence of low birth weight, prevalent in multiple births, said Dr Bryan. Many multiple birth babies are generally born 1000 grams lighter than single born babies. Figures show that 6% of singleton babies weigh less than 2500 grams. This compares with 50% of twins, 90% of triplets, and almost all of higher multiple birth babies (that is quadruplets or more) being born recording birth weights less than 2500 grams.

Furthermore, figures indicate that 0.7% of single born babies fall below 1500 grams in weight, compared to 9% for twins, 28.4% for triplets and 52.3% for quadruplets. Birth weight discordance, where the babies are growing at different rates, is a great concern and often raises an ethical dilemma.

"What do you do for a foetus that is failing to grow? Do you try and save that one, at the same time risking the pre-term complication in the otherwise healthy baby?"

Perinatal Mortality

Of grave concern is the increase in the incidence of perinatal mortality among births resulting from assisted conception, compared to those of non-ART births.
"If you lose one of your babies, you are a deeply grieving family," said Dr Bryan.
"There are the added complications of caring for surviving children. Celebrating the birth or births of surviving children while mourning the death of another can be a very complex position to be in - and one that some parents cannot cope with. They may even reject the survivors as they grieve the baby that has died," she said.

Environmental Factors

Families of multiple births inevitably face environmental factors. It has been found that many multiple birth babies suffer learning difficulties and this is particularly prevalent among monozygotic multiple births, said Dr Bryan. Monozygotic multiples occur when one egg is fertilised by one sperm and then splits into two or more. The embryos produced are always the same sex and are identical.

In assessing the causes, Dr Bryan said we must take into account the following:

The Shared Mother-Infant Relationship

"Some mothers, and indeed some fathers, find it very difficult to fall in love with more than one baby at a time," said Dr Bryan.
Likewise, children of multiple births may have difficulty in relating to their mother and father and find that the shared relationship inhibits them the access to the attention and the stimulation that a normal single child would receive.

At times the competition can be intense and even aggressive, said Dr Bryan.

This may retard development and as a result, many of these children are more likely to have difficulty in communication and language development. This problem is further compounded if one child has a medical condition requiring more attention.
A study involving 200 pairs of twins found that at the age of four years, the average age of development of twins was 3 1/2 years, six months behind that of single children. Language development is an area particularly affected.

Aspects of communicating as a threesome include:

• Reduced eye contact
• Reduced dialogue with the mother - studies have shown that mothers of twins talk less to their children than mothers of single children, partly because they are busier, partly because they tend to think that the children can entertain each other
• Reduced opportunity to learn - often time is short and many expeditions are near impossible with two children
• Furthermore, it has been noted that single children tend to have an adult as a language role model, whereas multiple infants tend to have a constant exposure to each other's inferior communicative skills, reinforcing errors, she said.

Concentration

Solitude is important for a child to learn to be comfortable in its own company and is important in developing concentration, she said. Twins often lack solitude.

Research has shown that twins are more likely to suffer from attention hyperactivity distraction syndrome, often partly due to perinatal factors, but reinforced by the fact that they rarely have time on their own, she said.
"Some may never have time alone," said Dr Bryan.

Premature Babies & Mothers

A study in the United States compared premature twins and premature single babies and how their respective mothers behaved towards them. The babies involved in the study were aged 18 months.
The study found that, in general, mothers of twins showed fewer initiative responses, were less responsive to the positive signals of their babies, and were less responsive to their babies crying. These mothers lifted, held, touched, patted and talked less to their twin babies. "This behaviour was predictive of the cognitive development of these children," said Dr Bryan.

Behavioural Factors

Domination

The problem of domination is common in multiples, particularly boy-girl twins, especially in the pre-school period when the girl tends to be more socially confident and mature, appointing herself spokesperson.

"She will often look after her brother and he may be happy for her to do so. This is not the way to get the esteem of his peers and should not be allowed to continue, she said. Such domination can have far-reaching effects.

Twin girls, Sophie and Lucy, came to the clinic in London and drew pictures of their family. Lucy drew a picture in which she was vastly smaller in proportion that her sister. Lucy clearly did not feel the same size as her sister although she was the same size and they were monozygotic. It was Lucy's self esteem that was the problem.

Self Esteem

A study carried out involving pre-school twins linked both birth order and birth weight to self-esteem. The first-born child, and the child recording the greater birth weight, displayed more confidence.

The most important factor of all, however, was the order in which the newborn babies were taken home from the hospital. While this may seem surprising, several cases have highlighted this aspect, said Dr Bryan.

"It should be strongly encouraged, where possible, that twin children are taken home together," says Dr Bryan.

Collusion

Disciplinary problems, in general, are greater for twins than for single children. And for parents, collusion can be one of the biggest concerns.

As Psychologist Dorothy Birlingham said:

"Twins use each other to accomplish what one cannot do alone. They have the strength of two and are invincible".

They have each other to encourage unruly behaviour and with their combined skill they do not get bored of being naughty, said Dr Bryan. Disciplinary problems are further compounded with triplets and quadruplets.

The Problem of Exclusivity

Children of multiple births get used to being thought of as special due to the "twinship" and later in life they can find it very difficult when they are separated from their twin. "Often part of their own self-image and confidence was due to their 'specialness' as twins and they excluded the world because they themselves were exclusive," said Dr Bryan.

Practical Problems for Families

Adjustment is always tough for any parents welcoming newborns into the family. With multiples, the pressures are often compounded yet help is not always readily at hand. The Australia Multiple Birth Association asked 74 mothers of six-month-old triplets to calculate how many hours it took to look after the babies and do the housework each week. The mothers calculated that it took 197.5 hours - there are only 168 hours in a week.

Furthermore, many mothers of multiples who have undergone fertility treatment are older women and often have less energy. In 1980, there were 730 multiple births to women aged 30 years and over, constituting 1% of all births to women in that age group. By 2000, this number has increased to 2,300, constituting 2% of births in this age group.

Depression

Not surprisingly it's been found that depression is more common amongst mothers of twins and higher multiple births, said Dr Bryan. A study in the United Kingdom in 1991 concluded that mothers of twins are more likely to experience depression, indicating the additional and exceptional pressures placed upon the mothers' emotional wellbeing. The children involved in this study were five years old, disclaiming the possibility of postnatal depression, she said.

Sibling Behaviour

Behavioural problems among siblings in families with twins are considerably higher than siblings of single children. Studies have shown a three-fold increase in the behaviour of siblings in the 2-5-year age group. In the older age group, 8-11 years, the effect of the arrival of twins was even more profound with a six-fold increase in behavioural problems.

Child Abuse

Research in Japan showed a higher prevalence of child abuse among multiple births. There was a ten-throw increase amongst multiples, and it tended to be the disadvantaged child, either the smaller or less responsive or disabled child, that was affected. In the rare cases where both twins were affected, serious psychiatric illnesses were usually present, she said.

Positive Factors

While parenting multiples is clearly more demanding, such a life-changing event can have its up side for all involved.

"Clearly there are positive factors," said Dr Bryan.

Being a child of a multiple birth is certainly a unique existence. Among the many benefits, Dr Bryan cited the bonds of companionship, affection, co-operation, stimulation, encouragement, security, sympathy and empathy.

"I know many adult twins who regard their twin-ship as their greatest bonus in life," she said.

Related posts:

1. Multiple Births
2. High or Low Risk Pregnancy
3. What age is best to be a mum?

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates should be unrefined with nothing added and nothing taken away. They include starches, sugars and fibres. They provide energy. Contrary to popular belief they are not fattening if they are eaten in the form of complex carbohydrates.

Good Sources

Whole grains, wholemeal flour, millet, wholemeal bread, oats, oatmeal, buckwheat, brown rice, maize meal, fresh vegetables and fruit. Oats are thought to increase fertility.

Poor Sources

Sugars, white flour, white bread, white pasta, sweets. These are all poor in fibre, vitamins and minerals.

Proteins

Proteins are called building blocks. They are necessary to build or repair tissue, muscles, organs, enzymes and hair.
Proteins are made of amino acids that are broken down in the body to form other amino acids. The potential role of amino acids in preconception health care has only just begun to be understood. Research indicates that the amino acids, spermadine and aspermine, play a major role in the synthesis of semen. Furthermore, the levels of these amino acids have been found to be low in men with low sperm counts. Amino acids are also important in the process of digestion as they form the digestive enzymes necessary to break down food.

Good Sources

Fresh meat, poultry, offal, fish, milk, eggs, cheeses, nuts, pulses and seeds including wholegrains.

Poor Sources

Bought pies, TV dinners, sausages and hamburgers, salamis, pates and other processed meats, and twice-cooked meats.

Fats

Provide energy and build cell walls. Both animal (including fish) and vegetable fats are necessary as part of a healthy diet.
Polyunsaturated fats are found in vegetables, nuts, unheated vegetables and fish oils, all of which should be included in the diet. Monounsaturates such as olive oil are more beneficial in balancing cholesterol levels.

For inspiration on how to incorporate these dietary essentials into the foods you eat check out our Fabulous Recipes and our Healthy Eating section that details information on positive eating and therapeutic foods.

Related posts:

1. Giving your Baby the BBB’s!
2. Positive Eating
3. Vitamins & Minerals