Families with twins - a systematic review¹

La familia en la perspectiva gemelar - una revisión sistemática

Abstracts

Parenthood is among the developmental transitions that set major challenges for contemporary families. When there is a twin pregnancy, those challenges increase. Our aims in this study are understanding the parental experience in families with twins and identifying the factors which condition parental experience in such families. It is a literature review focusing on studies published between 2000 and 2012 based on reference data. The articles were analyzed considering the aims, participants, phases of data collection, tools used; and results achieved regarding the dimensions involved in parenting experiences faced by parents of twins. In the 19 studies identified, maternity was the main focus of research. Women with twin children showed lower scores on well-being, higher stress risks, exhaustion and depression. The experience of these families was different, more demanding and complex than singletons' parents. Understanding of this matter becomes crucial to contributing to better health for families.

Families; Parents; Twins

La paternidad es una de las transiciones del desarrollo que plantea más desafíos a la familia contemporánea. En un embarazo gemelar estos retos son engrandecidos. Los objetivos del estudio fueron conocer la experiencia de la paternidad en familias con gemelos y analizar los factores que influyen en sus experiencias de paternidad. Para este propósito se analizaron artículos publicados entre 2000-2012 en bases de datos referencia. Los artículos fueron analizados teniendo en cuenta: objetivos, participantes, tiempo de recolección de datos, instrumentos utilizados y los resultados, atendiendo las variables que integran la experiencia de paternidad gemelar. En los 19 estudios identificados, la maternidad era el foco central de investigación. Las mujeres con gemelos han tenido resultados más bajos de bienestar, aumentando el riesgo de estrés, agotamiento y depresión. La experiencia de las familias fue diferente, más exigente y compleja que para otros padres. Comprender el tema es fundamental para maximizar la salud de la familia.

Familia; Padres; Gemelos

A parentalidade é uma das transições desenvolvimentais que mais desafios colocam à família contemporânea. Quando ocorre uma gravidez gemelar, esses desafios são exponenciados. Foi nosso propósito conhecer a experiência parental de famílias com gêmeos e identificar os factores que condicionam as suas experiências parentais. Para o efeito, procedemos à análise de artigos publicados entre 2000-2012 em bases de dados referenciais. Os artigos foram analisados tendo em conta: objetivos, participantes, momentos de recolha de dados, instrumentos e resultados obtidos, considerando as variáveis que integram a vivência da parentalidade em pais de gêmeos. Nos 19 estudos identificados, a maternidade foi o foco central das pesquisas. As mulheres com filhos gêmeos obtiveram scores mais baixos de bem-estar, aumentando o risco de estresse, exaustão e depressão. A experiência destas famílias foi diferente, mais exigente e complexa que nos pais com filhos singulares. Compreender esta problemática torna-se fundamental para potenciar ganhos em saúde na família.

Família; Pais; Gêmeos

INTRODUCTION

Families are the base units in the organization of society, and they have two fundamental roles: one is the creation of a sense of belonging, and the other is to enable their members to develop and build their own individuality.^{1 - 2}

Each family has its own history and path. In light of the Bertalanffy General Systems Theory,³ applied to families, they constitute systems composed of subsystems that have a complex and evolutionary mode of operation, which is revealed in the interactions of their members and confers on them an identity.⁴ In this unique and complex process, there are transitions that encompass vital continuous and discontinuous processes of the human being.⁵ The transition to parenthood is one of the greatest challenges facing families and the people who compose them. This transition to and experience of parenthood have been the target of several studies,^{6 - 10} which created room for the establishment of interventions by healthcare professionals to promote family health at times such as this that are particularly critical and intense.

Some studies suggest that the transition to parenthood is experienced differently by men and women,^{6 , 8} has implications for the marital relationship^{11 - 12}, and reveals itself as harder than expected,¹³ as it becomes a fundamental element in family health.⁸ They also point to the importance of the couple being aware of the changes that can take place in the transition to parenthood.¹⁴

The complexity of this transition may also include circumstances that make it more diverse and demanding, such as parenthood with twins. Twinning has always sparked the interest of the scientific community in matters as diverse as understanding life experience,¹⁵ understanding the importance of genetics and the environment in human development,¹⁶ deepening our understanding of matters of identity and individuality,¹⁷ and understanding the experience of having twins.^{18 - 20}

In this sense, focusing our attention on this last aspect, two questions arise: what changes in families after the birth of twins? What repercussions occur in the subsystems that make up families with twins? Looking for an answer to this concern, we have set up an investigation to get to know parenthood experiences with twins and analyze the factors that condition these experiences.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We ran a systematic review based on the recommendations of Cochrane:²¹ formulate the question; locate and select the studies; do a critical assessment of the studies considering the participants of studies; and the health problem in analysis and results.

In order to identify relevant studies, we used the reference databases: ISI Web of Science -- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI); Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI); Conference Proceedings Citation Index -- Science (CPCI-S); Conference Proceedings Citation Index -- Social Science & Humanities (CPCI-SSH); Scopus database -- Subject Areas: Life Sciences; Health Sciences (100% Medline); Physical Sciences; and Social Sciences and the Humanities.

To describe the research, the following topics were defined: "parenting," "twins" and "multiple birth." Considering the specific characteristics of the selected databases: in the Scopus, we used the terms "parenting" and "twins" or "multiple birth" at keyword+title+abstract; in the Web of Science, we regarded as topics of research "parenting" and "twins" or "multiple birth" in articles, considering the general category of Social Sciences.

We included in this review studies met our previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were: primary studies published between 2000 and 2012 and available in the databases used; with families with biological twins; the central focus of the study was the experience of families with twins. We also considered the reliability and the relevance of the studies, the critical assessment having been supported by MAStARI critical appraisal tools.²² The exclusion criteria were: op-ed articles or secondary studies; families with single children or adopted twins; studies focusing on parenting practices or phenomena related to twinning itself; and without the complete text available.

The articles for review were selected by two reviewers in an independent fashion. First, the abstracts were read, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The selected studies were fully read and analyzed in a descriptive manner, according to the protocol of the review. The data were extracted by using standard forms. The sequence of extracted information was: author(s), year, country, objectives, study design, participants, and results.

The analysis process was based on an interpretative reading of the articles, emphasizing the similarities and divergences of the contents relative to experiences in families of twins.

To proceed to the selection of relevant studies, we considered the proposed review protocol. We identified 483 articles (Scopus, 274; Web of Science, 275), 66 of which are common to both reference databases, and proceeded to reading the respective abstracts. In the step of the process "identification of studies," we excluded 16 articles because they did not meet the 1^st inclusion criteria, that is, to be primary studies; 51 articles were out because they did not meet the 2^nd inclusion criteria, that is, the participants were not families with twins; and, lastly, 393 articles did not focus on the study of experiencing parenthood with twins -- they focused on parenting practices, the experience of being a twin brother, and the influence of genetics and the environment on people, using twin brothers. We selected 23 articles, and we eliminated four, because the whole text was not available (4^th exclusion criteria), resulting in 19 articles. With regard to methodological quality and in view of results obtained (moderate and high), we decided to include all of these articles.

RESULTS

In this review, we found 19 publications between 2000 and 2012 that met the criteria. Of these studies, five were in the United Kingdom, one in Finland, one in Belgium, one in Sweden, five in the United States, one in Australia, five in Israel, and one was jointly developed with France.

With regard to methodological quality and the results obtained (moderate and high), we decided to include all the articles. Table 1lists the articles by chronological data of publication; table 2 shows the instruments used, when applicable.

Table 1
Summary of the selected studies

Study number/ Author/Year/ Country	Objective/Participants/Design/Results
E1. Colpin, Munter, Nys, Vandemeulebroeck(2000) Belgium.23	Objective: to study the pre- and postnatal determining factors of parenting stress. Participants: women expecting twins (n=40). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: 27 pregnancy weeks and 1 year after birth. Results: personal well-being and the prenatal support of the spouse were predictors of stress in women one year after birth.
E2. Ellison, Hall (2003) United States.24	Objective: to identify the areas of the quality of life of mothers which showed the greatest impact due to the birth of twins. Participants: women with: 1 - one child per conception (n=10), 2 - twins with low risk at birth (n=12), ages between 4 and 5 or 9 and 10 years old, 3 - twins with high risk at birth with ages between 1 and 5 (n=11), 4 - one child (n=4) or twins (n=6) conceived via medically assisted conception (MAC) with ages between 8 months and 11 years old. Design: focal group, discussion points: stress and family needs, social support, health of the children, marital satisfaction and impact on the self of the woman. Results: birth had higher impact on: marital satisfaction, family needs, stress and maternal depression. Almost all areas of quality of life were more affected for mothers of twins.
E3. Tully, Moffit, Caspi (2003) United Kingdom.25	Objective: to compare parental adjustment, parenthood and the behavior of children of families with different types of conception. Participants: mothers, twins, and professors of these conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovary induction (OI) (n=121) and naturally (n=121). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: when the twins were 5 years old. Results: no significant differences were identified between the groups, with the exception of parent behavior. The mothers who conceived naturally revealed higher inconsistency with regard to discipline.
E4. Glazebrook, Sheard, Cox, Oates, Ndukwe (2004) United Kingdom.26	Objective: to analyze parental stress and psychosocial well-being of primiparous women who conceived multiples by IVF. Participants: primiparous women in 18th week of pregnancy: 1 - simple pregnancy by IVF (n=95), 2 - twin pregnancy by IVF (n=36), 3 - simple pregnancy by natural conception (n=129). Design: Prospective cohort. Data collection: 18th week of pregnancy, 6 weeks and 12 months after labor. Children who were born of twin pregnancy weighed less at birth, were more preterm, and remained on average more days in the hospital. Women with twin children presented higher values of parental stress; however, parental stress was considered abnormally high in all three groups. Women who were mothers of twins were less satisfied with their work outside of home and worked fewer hours.
E5. Ellison, Hotamisligil, Lee, Rich-Edwards, Pang, Hall (2005) United States.27	Objective: to determine if psychosocial risks in families that conceived via MAC were associated with the number of children per pregnancy. Participants: women who conceived after MAC: 1 - one child (n=128), 2 - twins (n=111), 3 - triplets (n=10). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: 12 and 48 months after labor. Results: the birth of multiples increased psychosocial risks and was associated with needs of families, decrease in quality of life, social stigma, and maternal depression.
E6. Olivennes, Golombok, Ramogida, Rust and Follow-up team (2005) United Kingdom.28	Objective: to establish the nature and scope of the difficulties of parents and the development of twins conceived by resorting to MAC. Participants: mother and child(ren) conceived via MAC: 1 - one child (n=344), 2 - twin children (n=344). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: children between 2 and 5 years old. Results: the percentage of mothers with twins with paid work was lower; they had more parental stress and depression; they had more difficulty and less pleasure in their relationships with their children; and they were less willing to have more children. No differences were noted in marital satisfaction and sexual interest, but sexual activity was less frequent in mothers of twins. Twins had lower scores in language, fine motor adaptive skills, and social interaction.
E7. Findler, Taubman-Ben-Ari, Jacob (2007) Israel.29	Objective: to analyze the contributions to the temper of the baby, attachment to the mother, and support of the maternal grandmother in mental health and marital adaptation of women. Participants: Mothers of twins: 1 - term babies (n=78), 2 - preterm (n=70). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: 3 weeks and one year after hospital discharge. Results: the mental health of the mothers was associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety in the attachment and good marital adaptation. The primiparous mothers of term twins showed better mental health than the ones who already had children or who had preterm twins. The support of the maternal grandmother promoted training to help the mother to deal with the temper of the children, and it was a more significant contributing factor in preterm situations.
E8. Golombok, Olivennes, Ramogida, Rust, Freeman and follow-up team. (2007) United Kingdom/France.30	Objective: to understand the difficulties of parenthood focusing on the psychological and social-emotional well-being of the parents and on the development of triplets who were born after IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Participants: Mothers and children in families with children conceived via IVF/ICSI: 1 - one child (n=30), 2 - twin children (n=15), 3 - triplets (n=10). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: children between 2 and 3 years old. Results: women who had more than one child per pregnancy showed higher levels of parental stress, and mothers of multiples reported lower frequency of sexual relations. Twins and triplets also had lower scores in language.
E9. Sheard, Cox, Oates, Ndukwe Glazebrook (2007) United Kingdom.31	Objective: to explore the impact of the birth of multiples via IVF on the mental health of the mother. Participants: primiparous women who conceived via IVF: 1 - one child per conception (n=119), 2 - twins (n=49), 3 - triplets (n=7). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: 6 weeks after birth. Results: children in multiple births weighed less at birth, were more preterm and remained on average more days at the hospital. A strong correlation was observed between the temper of the children and depression, and depression was also higher in mothers of multiples after labor. The mothers of multiples more often reported problems with topics such as being tired, stressed and depressed. The mothers who conceived an only child spoke more of how well they felt.
E10. Sydjo, Wadsby, Sydsjo, Selling (2008) Sweden.32	Objective: to analyze the differences in marital relations and in parenthood in primiparous couples. Participants: 1 - Mothers (n=86) and fathers (n=79) of one child, 2 - mothers (n=13) and fathers (n=13) of twins conceived by IVF and 3 - mothers (n=157) and fathers (n=144) of one child conceived naturally. Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: 5 years after birth. Results: only in families of twins were no more children born. The largest decrease between the two assessments took place in parents of twins. Considering the subscales, the significant differences between the groups were: for men, sexual relations and parenthood; for women, sexual relations, parenthood, conflict resolution, equality of roles, and life conception.
E11. Taubman-Ben-Ari, Findler, Bendet, Stanger, Ben-Shlomo, Kuint (2008) Israel.33	Objective: to examine the contribution of psychological and social factors in the marital adaptation to the birth of twins. Participants: Mothers of: 1 - twins (n=88), 2 - one child per conception (n=82). Design: cross-sectional integrated to a cohort study. Data collection: one month after birth. Results: for marital adaptation, there was a contribution of: good financial situation; primiparous; less stress, anxiety and avoidance in the attachment; and support of the grandparents. Negatively correlated were the difficulties that the mother had with the temper of the child(ren), considering it difficult.
E12. Damato, Anthony, Maloni (2009) United States.34	Objective: to determine the relationship between parental stress, social support and sense of competence, and the mood of mothers with twins. Participants: mothers of twins (n=162). Design: cross-sectional. Data collection: in the 2 first years after birth. Results: competence and parental anguish were related to maternal mood. Low parent competence was associated with negative mood, less anguish and higher parent competence to positive mood.
E13. Choi, Bishai, Minkovitz (2009) United States.35	Objective: to assess the relationship between the birth of multiples and symptoms of depression in mothers. Participants: Mothers of: 1 - one child (n=7293), 2 - more than one child (n=776) by conception. Design: cross-sectional integrated to a longitudinal study. Data collection: 9 months after birth. Results: mothers of multiples were more prone to symptoms of depression, parental being stress regarded as one of the main causes.
E14. Vilska, Unkila-Kallio, Punamäki, Poikkeus, Repokari, Sinkkonen, Tiitinen, Tulppala (2009) Finland.36	Objective: to assess the mental health of fathers and mothers of twins. Participants: couples who conceived: 1 - one child (n=270), 2 - twins (n=55) by MAC, 3 - one child (n=251), 4 - twins (n=11) naturally. Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: 2nd quarter of pregnancy, 2 months and 1 year after birth. Results: women who conceived via MAC had fewer symptoms of depression during pregnancy. Mothers and fathers of twins, 2 months after birth, had higher levels of anxiety and depression that were sustained one year after birth, but mothers of twins conceived via MAC had fewer symptoms of anxiety than other mothers of twins. Sleep difficulties as well as social dysfunction were more common in parents of twins.
E15. Baor, Soskolne (2010) Israel.37	Objective: to assess stress in primiparous mothers of twins considering prenatal expectations and coping mechanisms. Participants: mothers of twins who conceived: 1 - naturally (n=98), 2 - with IVF (n=88). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: between the 33rd and 36th week of pregnancy and 6 months after birth. Results: the rate of C-sections was higher in twin conceptions by IVF, the babies were preterm, with lower weight and more neonatal complications. Women who conceived via IVF had more positive prenatal expectations, poorer coping mechanisms and higher levels of stress 6 months after birth. The mother’s expectations did not have the power to predict the mother’s stress.
E16. Taubman-Bem-Ari, Findler, Kuint (2010) Israel.38	Objective: to examine the factors that contributed to personal growth of mothers after the birth of preterm twins. Participants: mothers of: 1 - one term child (n=75), 2 - term twins (n=72), 3 - preterm twins (n=64). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: first weeks and 1 year after birth. Results: mothers of preterm twins were subjected to higher stress, had worse mental health, noticed the temper of the children as more difficult, showed more negative feelings about their children and received more support from their mothers. However, they experienced higher personal growth and this was positively associated with marital adaptation. In the other two groups, personal growth was associated with the perceived support of the maternal grandmother.
E17. Bolch, Davis, Umstad, Fisher (2012) Australia.39	Objective: to investigate the experiences of mothers with twin children with special needs. Participants: mothers with twins between 12 months and 6 years old with a history of admissions to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (n=10). Design: thematic analysis. Data collection: interview. Results: they expressed concern with the difficulties of having more than one child and with their health needs. They reported practical and psychological problems.
E18. Baor, Soskolne (2012) Israel.40	Objective: to assess levels of maternal stress after the birth of twins considering social resources. Participants: mothers of twins conceived via IVF (n=88). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 6 months after birth. Results: clinical levels of maternal stress were identified in 41% of the sample. Social support and professional activity were more significant in the experience of maternal stress.
E19. Lutz, Burnson, Hane, Samuelson, Maleck, Poehlmann (2012) United States.41	Objective: to assess the influence of family support on maternal stress. Participants: mothers with preterm children: 1 - one child per conception (n=123), 2 - twins (n=27). Design: prospective cohort. Data collection: 3rd trimester of pregnancy, 24 months after birth. Results: only functional support resulted in a factor of protection. The mothers of twins reported higher stress levels.

• ^*
  The selected studies that were presented in the table were organized by considering the date of publication and were identified with a corresponding number, preceded by 'E' [that stands for 'estudo', which is 'study' in Portuguese].

Table 2
Variables and instruments used in the studies

Variable	Instruments
Quality of life	Quality of Life Index. 27
Mental health	MHI - Mental Health Inventory;29,38 GHQ-12 - General Health Questionnaire-12;26 GHQ-30 - General Health Questionnaire;23 GHQ-36 - General Health Questionnaire-36.36
Stress	Cohen Perceived Stress Scale;27 FILE - Family Inventory of Life Invents and Changes, shorter Hebrew version;29,33,38 PSI-SF - Distress Subscale of the Parenting Stress Index/Short Form;26,28,30,34,37,40 PSI - Distress Subscale of the Parenting Stress Index Dutch version.23,41
Depression	CES-D - Centers for Epidemiological Study-Depression Scale;27,35,40,41 EDS - Edinburgh Depression Scale;28,30 Diagnostic Interview Schedule;25 The Life History Calendar;25 EPDS - Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.31
Mood	MAACL-R - Multiple Affect Adjective Check List-Revised.34
Perception of relationships	ECR - Experiences in Close Relationships Scale.29,33,38
Sense of coherence	SOC - Sense of Coherence.37
Personal growth	PTGI - Posttraumatic Growth Inventory.38
Mothers’ feelings	FMSS - Five-Minute Speech Sample;25 The Mothers’ Feelings Toward their Baby Questionnaire;38 PSOC - Parenting Sense of Competence Scale;34,37 PMES - Prenatal Maternal Expectations Scale37
Psychomotor development of the child	Denver II - Denver Developmental Screening Test.28,30
Characteristics of the child	SDQ - Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire;28,30 CBCL - Child Behavior Checklist;25 TRF - Teacher Report Form;25 Rutter Child Scales;25 Revised Rutter Scale for School-age Children;25 UIB - Unsettled and Irregular Behaviour Sub scale;31 ICQ - Infant Characteristics Questionaire.29,33,38
Marital relationship	GRIMS - Golombok Rust Inventory of Marital State;28,30 I-MQS - Israeli Marital Quality Scale;37,40 Enrich Marital Inventory;32 ENRICH;29,33,38 KMSS - Kansas Marital Satisfaction Conjugal Scale;27 Conflict Tactics Scale;25 GRISS - Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction.28,30
Material needs of the family	Meeting Material Family Needs. 27
Social stigma	Social Stigma. 27
Social support	Support Functions Scale; 29,33,38 Abbreviated Duke Social Support Index; 34 Scale of Perceived Social Support; 37,40 Maternal Support Scale. 41

Table 2 lists and systematizes the instruments used in data collection. To organize it, we considered the variables under study.

Based on the abovementioned results, we decided to carry out synthesis and analysis of the data that, in our view, contributed the most to the understanding of the matter, as well as the nature of the supporting studies.

The objectives of the studies under analysis were to identify variables that influenced the quality of life of parents,²⁴ focusing in particular on mental health,^{29 , 31 , 35 - 36} psychosocial well-being^{26 , 30} and parental stress.^{23 , 26 , 37 , 40 - 41} They also covered marital adaptation,^{29 , 32 - 33} parental adjustment^{25 , 32} and behavior²⁵ and development of children,^{28 , 30} seeking to identify the determining factors of this process^{23 , 27 - 30 , 33 - 34 , 37 - 38 , 40} and using twinning parenthood as a reference.

The studies favored the quantitative paradigm. Higher participation by mothers reveals the importance that is socially attributed to motherhood.

From the comparative analyses used in some of the research, we considered the difference between groups, taking into account: different types of conception,^{25 - 26 , 32 , 36 - 37} number of births per pregnancy^{26 - 28 , 30 - 33 , 35 - 36 , 38 , 41} and gestation period.^{29 , 38}

DISCUSSION

In the first decades of the 21^st century, investigation of twinning parenthood focused on determining the variables that influenced adaptation to parenthood, as well as consequences in personal and family life. The articles reviewed here showed results that helped answer the initially formulated questions, allowing us to understand the implications of twinning for parenthood. Emphasis was given to results that showed impact on family subsystems from a systemic perspective.

In the studies under analysis, children as individual subsystems were assessed on the physical, emotional and behavioral levels. No differences were found with respect to emotional or behavioral problems in the different groups of children^{28 , 30} or types of conception.²⁵ In developmental assessment, lower scores were obtained in twins for items relating to language,^{28 , 30} fine motor adaptive skills, and personal-social.²⁸

Mothers of twins more frequently reported difficult experiences,^{28 , 31} questioning of parenthood and experiencing doubts.³¹ They felt tired, reporting that their expectations regarding motherhood were different from the reality, and now it was a job that was harder and with more difficulties than they had thought. As a consequence, they experienced stress and/or depression, reporting also less feelings of pleasure with twins and less desire to have more children than other mothers.²⁸ The quality of life of women decreased with the birth of multiple children.²⁷

The impact of the birth of twins on the marital subsystem was initially like an implosion, with varied repercussions in marital life. However, this impact varied considerably with renegotiation of roles and reorganization of work. Participation of spouses in caring for children and housework revealed important elements for reducing this impact.²⁴

Marital adaptation was associated significantly and positively with support provided by maternal grandmothers, in women with high levels of stress. Grandmothers' roles came out as relevant in the complex management of chores for the couple, contributing to the marital relationship in the first weeks after labor.³³

Decreases in marital satisfaction, although without statistical significance, was consistent with increases in the number of children per conception.²⁷ No differences were reported with respect to sexual interest;²⁸ however, in mothers of multiples, sexual activity was less frequent.^{28 , 30}

With respect to parental subsystems, mothers of twins had the perception that their children had more difficult tempers,³³ which increased maternal emotional vulnerabilty.³¹However, personal well-being and support of spouses, noticed by women in the last trimester of twin pregnancies, was a predictor of less parental stress experienced by them, one year after birth.²³

Therefore, according to the studies included in this review, twinning can bring to family subsystems multiple vulnerabilities and difficulties in daily management, with work overload in repetitive execution of family routines and, consequently, fewer hours of sleep; some of these stress factors were identified in families of twins. Another factor that worked as a stressor was the previous existence of other children, for the inclusion and diversity of family needs that this fact represented.²⁴

Multiple births increased the financial needs of families.^{24 , 27} The percentage of women in families with twins who had paid work was lower than for other mothers. More than half the mothers of twins did not go back to work outside the home (one year after birth), while women who conceived one child worked, on average, 20 hours per week. The financial situation of families of twins worsened, and the implications were not just financial, as it interfered also with social status and may also have influenced the mental health of the women.²⁶ Many women had to give up their jobs and careers, and if some women thought of this option as an opportunity, others felt that leaving their professions and careers led to partial loss identity and independence.²⁴

Opening the field to the social context where the family was included, it was found that in American society, this associated twining to infertility and to medically assisted reproduction, for which the mothers of twins felt more vulnerable to public assessments of their fertility and medical history.^{24 , 27}

In puerperium, nursing care in the context of the home increased safety and self-confidence among women, and it became important support that needs to be adopted. The puerperium is regarded as a new and difficult period in the life of women, and this care becomes particularly relevant in the birth of twins.⁴² Some authors^23;43 contend that couples who expected twins needed specific support information to prepare them to take care of twins, suggesting counseling and prenatal guidance. Emphasis was also given to how important it is for mothers of twins to be able to discuss their personal experiences and feelings with professionals. Being aware of difficulties experienced by these parents, as well as strategies to be adopted, is important for efficacy of care.²⁰ Care for families of twins should start at the moment of diagnosis.⁴² Follow-up for parents of twins must be assured by expert health professionals during pregnancy and after birth, in the family context. It is important, therefore, to understand the problems of families with twins, so as to provide the best support according to their needs.⁴⁴

We understand that much remains to be done, and it is essential, then, to continue to develop investigation in this scope, to validate and deepen the results obtained. It is also our opinion that there must be longitudinal studies²⁷ to identify the factors that predict psychosocial risk in the birth of multiples, in particular, in medically assisted reproduction. Research is also required in the qualitative paradigm, to understand the process and optimize the provided support. The inclusion of fathers in the population under study is regarded as an element that improves understanding of the matter,^{28 , 30} and that is also our understanding.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

This review provides information on the needs of families that experience twinning parenthood. As the authors of this review are nurses, concerned with intervention directed to the effective needs of these families, they understand that investigation results that support practice based on scientific knowledge are essential. They also believe that this is an area where we must continue to develop studies, with different approaches, to strengthen the potential for nursing intervention in training and developing facilitating strategies in these families, including different contexts and cultures, enabling reports given by subjects who live this experience.

The results obtained in this review are encouraging as they propose the creation of interventions and support services that meet the demands of the families with twin children and that are not mere generalizations of interventions created for other audiences.

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• 1
  Extract from the thesis - Luzes e sombras em famílias de gêmeos, from the Graduate Program in Nursing, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, Universidade do Porto, 2013

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jul-Sep 2014

History

• Received
  18 Oct 2013
• Accepted
  18 Mar 2014