The reality of parenting multiples

MORE THAN JUST HANDS FULL

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PARENTING is never easy, but raising twins, triplets or more? That's next-level parenting!

While strangers may smile and say, “you've got your hands full!”, they rarely see what is happening behind closed doors. The truth is, parents of multiples face unique emotional, psychological and relationship challenges that are often misunderstood or overlooked.

Pregnancy with multiples is exciting, but usually high-risk. It involves more checkups, more anxiety and more physical discomfort.

In fact, mums are six times more likely to be hospitalised than those of singletons. Many mums feel a deep connection to each baby before birth, giving them names, imagining their per-

sonalities, and bonding through movement and ultrasounds, but it can also be confusing and conflicting if the foetuses don’t develop similarly or have health challenges.

But along with this connection comes fear; fear of premature birth, of health problems, and of what life will be like after delivery.