Twin babiesPA

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has said the NHS must improve its care for women who are expecting twins and triplets.

In a report out today, Nice say improvements must be made to reduce the significant medical risks involved for mums of multiples and their babies.

The report is the first guidance Nice has issued to health professionals specifically for the management of multiple births.

It says that improvements and new procedures are needed in order to give women who conceive twins or triplets better and more consistent care, and to reduce the number of unnecessary Caesarean deliveries. It also sets out guidelines to minimise the number of twins and triplets who require specialist care after delivery.

Around 11,000 women give birth to twins, triplets or other multiples a year in England and Wales, accounting for 3% of the 700,000 live births.

Specialist care is needed as women expecting more than one baby could be at a greater risk of miscarriage, anaemia, hypertension, vaginal bleeding, premature birth, or the need for an assisted or Caesarean delivery.

Dr Fergus Macbeth, the director of Nice's centre for clinical practice said: "We know there is a real clinical need for this guideline because NHS antenatal care for women expecting twins or triplets appears to vary considerably across England and Wales. For example, not all women with multiple pregnancies are cared for in dedicated settings such as 'twin clinics' or by multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals. This can lead to higher than necessary rates of assisted birth and caesarean sections and also means that women are not appropriately assessed for possible risks during pregnancy."

Did you have twins or triplets - or more - on the NHS?
How do you rate the care you received?


And some women who won't be needing NHS care...