PE01683: Support for families with multiple births

Multiple births are (generally) not through choice, where as singleton births are. Thus there should be more benefits available to those of multiple births.

Wendy

20:52 on 01 Mar 2018

Definitely agree.

Sharon Coull

14:37 on 01 Mar 2018

My twin grandsons were both 8 weeks early. My daughters and her partners maternity leave started on the day they were born.By the time the boys came out of special care there was hardly anytime left. They were left with a huge financial burden ..Even the cost of baby items was expensive. ie Their twin buggy was £1400 alone.

Audrey McLay

16:51 on 28 Feb 2018

Being a mother of twins I strongly feel double statutory maternity leave should be offered in comparison to a single birth in terms of time and money.

Emma

22:02 on 27 Feb 2018

As a Mum of twins born at 29 weeks, I understand all two well the struggles, emotionally and financially of having twins. My company maternity pay had ended whilst my children were still in hospital and lost out on 2 months of maternity leave whilst they were cared for in neonatal.

Leanne

21:48 on 27 Feb 2018

Whilst I was fortunate enough that my twins were born at 37 weeks and therefore did not require additional medical assistance there are a high number of multiple births where the babies are born prematurely and long hospital stays are needed. As a result a great deal of maternity leave can be spent in hospital. In addition, paternity leave often needs to be taken from the date the babies are born therefore partners are back at work before the babies are home. Personally, I had to start my maternity leave earlier than I did with my first singleton baby, as I was physically exhausted and uncomfortable. This meant that my maternity pay started earlier than I had initially thought. I think its also important to address the financial implications of having multiple births. The maternity pay, benefits on offer are no different to those having single births and whilst I intend to return to work there is no discounts or additional support on offer in regards to childcare and nursery placements.

Linzi

21:27 on 27 Feb 2018

Agree totally woth everything said. I was on basic maternity afyer having my twins and it wad terrible

Lisa Mcshane

12:00 on 27 Feb 2018

Mothers of twins, triplets or more are at a higher risk of suffering from post natal mental health issues and depression. The pressure and struggle of day to day life with multiples is hard and more support with free childcare hours would be a massive help. At the moment nursery for twins is in excess of £75 per day and that is with a discount. Longer maternity leave and greater financial support needs to be addressed.

Lorraine

11:40 on 27 Feb 2018

My twins were born almost ten weeks early and my Maternity leave started on the day they were born. We spent 2 months in hospital. I should have been on anual leave before maternity started. I had planned to finish work earlier than most with single pregnancies due to the strain on my body. I think slightly longer Maternity leave for multiple pregnancies would be a great benefit.

Debbie Staniforth

11:11 on 27 Feb 2018

The physical, emotional & financial burden on families is significant. It cannot be compared to the a person having a second or third child. This needs to be recognised.

Claire

10:39 on 27 Feb 2018