Multiple Birth Awareness Month

April 2009 is the first ever Multiple Birth Awareness Month. Since I am so plugged into the multiples community in my area and nationally, my first reaction was, "Why do we need an awareness month?"

But after thinking about it a minute I knew the answer. Parents of multiples, especially high order multiples (three or more) have special challenges. Special circumstances and special needs. We live in the world of $1000 strollers, buying everything times three, awkward and personal questions by strangers, trying to produce enough milk for three, going from a family of two to family of five in less than 60 seconds and being left out of simple outings with friends because it is often too difficult or simply not possible to do it without help (such as going to the pool with other moms and their singletons).

I am so thankful for the many local and national organizations that provide me with support, and I think the addition of Multiple Birth Awareness Month will only provide more opportunities for parents of multiples to be plugged in and linked with others who share their same unique needs.

Pictured with Casey and Misty, two of my good friends with quads, at a multiples event.

Here's an article about multiple birth

rates that I found interesting:

Multiple birth rates for 2006 were released in January 2009. Here are some highlights:

Twin Birth Rate
The 2006 twin birth rate was 32.2 per 1,000. This remained unchanged from 2005 and 2004.
The number of live births in twin deliveries rose 3 percent between 2005 and 2006 to 137,085 births. This number has more than doubled since 1980 (from 68,339).
137,085 twins were born in 2006

Higher Order Multiples
The rate of triplet and higher order multiple births (quadruplets, quintuplets, sextuplets and septuplets) continued to decrease in 2006. The 2006 rate was 153.3 per 100,000 births compared to 161.8 in 2005 and 176.9 in 2004.
In 2006, the number of higher order multiple deliveries were:
6,118 triplets
355 quadruplets
67 quintuplets
0 sextuplets or septuplets

Multiple Birth Death Rates
Twins are five times more likely than singletons to die within a month of birth. Triplets are nearly 15 times more likely to die within a month of birth. (From 2005 data.)

Impact of Fertility Treatments
Assisted reproductive therapies (including in vitro, ovulation-inducing drugs and artificial insemination) account for 17 percent of all twins and 40 percent of all triplets born in 2004.

Maternal Age Factors
Older women are much more likely to give birth to twins or triplets. One of every five births to women 45 years of age and older was born in twin delivery compared with less than two of every 100 births to mothers 20-24 years of age.
20 percent of births to women over age 45 were twins.
Only 2 percent of mothers 20-24 years of age had twins.

Preterm Birth Rates
A trend towards shorter pregnancies with multiples was observed. The percentage of twins delivered preterm (prior to 37 weeks) rose to 60.4% in 2006. This compares to 11.1% for single birth babies.
Less than 40% of twins were born at 37 weeks or later.
More than 12% were born prior to 32 weeks gestation.
36.33% of triplets were born prior to 32 weeks.
About 80% of quads and higher were born before 32 weeks.