TT - Tamba

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TWINS
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TambaMay09
TRIPLETS & MORE
MAY 2009
Pregnancy
guide out now
All the advice you
need – for free!
One-click
savings
Check out
our discounters
Government
backs Tamba
Ed Balls supports our
school campaign
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF TAMBA
TambaMay09
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Page 2
20% discount for TAMBA members
TambaMay09
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Page 3
TWINS
Letter from the
chief executive
I am delighted to report I’ve become a
father again (to just the one) and am
quickly reacquainting myself with sleepless
nights, picking up more household chores,
and the endless nappy changing. I’ll stop
here in case my wife reads this and it ends
up in a tiredness-fuelled argument.
I am pleased to report progress with our school admissions
campaign. The Guardian gave our concerns extensive national
exposure and following this the Secretary of State for Schools
asked the Chief Schools Adjudicator to investigate. But it’s not just
national action – Hertfordshire County Council has confirmed its
intention to amend its own code. Both stories are covered on pages
4 and 5.
We have published our groundbreaking “Multiple Failings” report
which looks at the experience of our mums’ ante- and postnatal
care. Many of the findings are of concern and helped to prioritise
our services and campaigning. You will be able see that it coincides
with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ROCG)
issuing Guidance for consultants on the “Management of
Monochorionic Twin Pregnancy” (page 4) and the launch of our
new Healthy Multiple Birth Pregnancy Guide (page 14).
The report identifies that 19% of our mums suffer from postnatal
depression (PND) and almost the same number think they may
have had it but were not diagnosed or deliberately hid the
symptoms from professionals because they felt a failure. We are
now looking for volunteers to help with a new project to better
support new mums with PND (page 8).
For those members who have left the early months and years
behind, we have more parenting advice on play and sharing (pages
6 and 7). You can now download parenting booklets and watch our
DVDs for free on our updated website. Thanks to the generous
support of the Dulverton Trust, we are able to offer members
exclusive parenting workshops across the UK – and don’t forget
Twinline is always there if you need it (page 13).
As always, it is your charity so I welcome your thoughts or
feedback and although I’m a little tired I promise to be polite even if
it is negative – honestly.
Keith
Please keep
your magazine
contributions
coming
Jane
Williams,
editor
TRIPLETS & MORE
May 2009
Vol.18 No.10
C O N T E N T S
Regulars
4
News from Tamba
6
Tamba Top Tips
Don’t take the fun out of playtime
11
Club news
12
Tamba fundraising
19
Fiona Gibson
22
Tamba Tested
Members test new buggies
27
Births, Classifieds,
Directory
30
My Day Today
By Richard Rickitt
31
Who’s Who Directory
Features
8
My story
New hope for the future
14
Pregnancy guide launched
All the advice you need
15
Mums losing out
Tamba’s groundbreaking report
16
Twice the blessings
18
Double the pleasure
One family, two sets of twins
Expert granny Miriam Stoppard
20
Save cash with Tamba
Your discounters guide
24
Chalk and cheese
Celebrating the differences
Cover picture
Turn to page
five and find
out about
Tamba’s fight
over school
admissions.
Contact me
if you want to
advertise in
TT&M
Sarah
Newell,
advertising
Tamba’s enhancing individuality policy (August 08
edition of TT&M – download at www.tamba.org.uk)
encourages the development of multiples’ individual
identities, for example by dressing them differently.
Whenever possible we use photographs that
promote this policy.
Disclaimer: Twins, Triplets & More Magazine is published by the Twins and Multiple Births Association.
Registered Charity no: 1076478. Registered Company No: 3688825. Twins, Triplets & More Magazine © Tamba 2007. ISSN 0967 - 8867
Tamba would like to point out that items in the magazine are collected from individuals and excerpts from newsletters etc. The views and suggestions are taken in good faith and the opinions expressed are not necessarily endorsed by Tamba. Likewise, advertising or the use of product names
does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by the Association.
TambaMay09
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TAMBA news
New guidance
issued by
Royal College
The Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists (ROCG) has
issued a Green-top guideline for
consultants to help them to manage
monochorionic twin pregnancies.
Twin monochorionic pregnancy
is where both babies are dependent
on a single shared placenta.
Around one third of twin pregnancies in the UK are monochorionic. It also occurs in a number of
higher order pregnancies.
The Green-top has been produced by professors Jim Neilsen,
who helped with Tamba’s Healthy
Multiple Pregnancy Guide, and
Mark Kilby, who we are looking
to involve in a number of future
projects.
It provides clear and authoritative guidance on how to best manage these pregnancies and also
includes information on the treatment of Twin to Twin Transfusion
Syndrome, which affects around 500
pregnancies each year.
This guidance is particularly
helpful as Tamba will be able to use
it to support our work later in the
year with the National Institute of
Health and Clinical Excellence
which is planning to compose
national guidance for all health professionals on the management of all
multiple pregnancies.
Visit the
website for
the Tamba
picnic and
events
4 MAY 2009
And baby makes five – Anthony and Rabia with their three sons.
Course ‘pioneers’ set
to share experiences
Congratulations to Anthony Green and
Rabia Siddique, who attended one of
our pilot Tamba antenatal classes.
Rabia gave birth to their triplet
sons, Aaron, Noah and Oscar Green, a
few weeks after attending the class last
October.
Rabia said she found the class to be
extremely useful, and is hoping to
share her experiences with other attendees in the future.
Tamba is looking for antenatal
teachers with an interest in multiple
births to run more one-day antenatal
courses for couples expecting more
than one child. It is an exciting new
project to improve provision for multiple birth parents in the UK.
The role involves five or six
Saturday courses per year at dates to suit
you, ideally in one of the following locations: Norwich, Leeds, Birmingham,
Exeter, Bristol and Manchester, but
other locations will be considered.
In return Tamba offers comprehensive training, competitive pay and ongoing support. If you are interested
please contact Sharon Famiglietti on
020 85087616.
� If you are expecting and would like
to go on a course then please visit our
website for more details.
� Tamba is looking for volunteer models to pose for cover shots,
either studio-style (see centre spread) or news-style.
If you live in the Midlands area and are happy to travel to
have your photographs taken then please contact Tamba’s editor
Jane Williams at jelwilliams@btinternet.com for more details.
www.tamba.org.uk
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TAMBA news
Government launches probe
into school admissions
The Government is reviewing school
admissions procedures thanks to a
Tamba campaign.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls has
asked the Chief Schools Adjudicator
to investigate the issue of multiples
being allocated places in different
schools.
Tamba says this year it estimates that
around 250 families got letters telling
them their children would be placed in
different schools
For families with multiples it
means a lengthy and worrying bureaucratic battle with local authorities
and schools to keep their children
together.
But thanks to Tamba’s Fair Deal for
Multiples – School Admissions campaign and its coverage in the Guardian
the Government is now reviewing its
school admissions code.
It has already issued a new updated
code which acknowledges the importance of keeping siblings together and
reads as follows:
“Families must be at the heart of
the admissions system and the
Government expects the admission
authorities for primary schools to take
the needs of parents with young chil-
Schools Secretary Ed Balls
– ordered an investigation.
dren into account in deciding which
oversubscription criteria will be used.
The admission authorities for primary
schools should ensure in their oversubscription criteria that siblings (includ-
ing twins, triplets or children from
other multiple births) can attend the
same primary school, as long as they
comply with the Education (Infant
Class Sizes) (England) Regulations
199836.”
However Tamba lobbied the minister saying the code was not strong
enough to ensure that it happens in
practice.
Consequently, Ed Balls wrote to the
School Adjudicator in March calling
for an investigation into the issue and
to report back to him on how the situation could be improved by September
2009.
Keith Reed, Tamba’s chief executive, said: “I am delighted and frustrated with the Government in equal
measure.
“Its staff team missed our concerns
the first time around but now the minister has stepped in and asked for them
to be considered again.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for
the issue to be thoroughly reviewed
and I urge members to get behind this
campaign by signing the petition on
our website and sending their school
admission experiences to me as a matter of urgency.”
Local action on school places
Education bosses at Hertfordshire
County Council are set to review
the authority’s code on school
admissions.
This action follows lobbying from
Tamba in partnership with St Albans
and District Twins Club to highlight
the problems that are faced by families
with school-age multiples in the area.
The council has issued a school
admissions code which acknowledges
the unique requirements of multiple
birth families. It is yet to go out to public consultation.
www.tamba.org.uk
The code proposes that: “Where
key stage one prejudice exists, that
there would be an exception to the
over-subscription criteria for community primary schools, which would
read as follows: where the last child to
be admitted would result in
twins/multiple births being split, these
children would be allocated, and the
penultimate ranked child/children not
allocated.”
Tamba chief executive Keith Reed
said: “Credit where credit is due. The
council met us, listened to our con-
cerns and has acted on them. This is an
excellent first step and we look forward
to maintaining this positive working
relationship.
“While we wait to see if the
Government responds to our concerns,
we can act locally to ensure local
authorities take our children’s needs
into account.”
If your council’s admissions code
does not acknowledge the unique
needs of multiples and you would like
help changing it then please contact
Keith at keithreed@tamba.org.uk
MAY 2009 5
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TAMBA toptips
Don’t take the fun
out of playtime
Play is a vital part of learning and a great part of family life but sometimes it
can feel like hard work. Take a look at these tips for worn-out parents
W
hen they are very young, twins often play alone,
almost unaware of each other’s presence. As
they grow, they begin to play together and to
share toys, games and fun. By the time they are three,
your children are likely to play together for extended periods of time, leaving you free to get on with other things.
Twins, triplets and more usually learn to co-operate
with other children at an earlier stage than many singletons.
You can provide a good mix of toys by borrowing
from a toy library, buying second-hand or swapping with
other families. You can also improvise toys from things
you find around the house. Have a good selection – you
don’t need duplicates of everything.
Everyday activities can be turned into games:
� Playing in the bath before bed (but supervise carefully).
6 MAY 2009
� Watch television or a video, and discuss it. With two or
more children, TV can be a social activity.
� Encourage the children to help you tidy up. Always sort
the toys as you put them away, as children of this age lose
interest in a box of jumbled pieces.
� Make tidying up into a game, with races to put toys
back where they belong.
� Give each child a list with pictures of items to find in
the supermarket when shopping.
� Make simple tasks like sweeping up or dusting fun.
How do I encourage the children to share?
Learning to share is important and should be encouraged
early on, as should taking turns.
� Some parents ensure fairness by allowing each child a
www.tamba.org.uk
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TAMBA toptips
set amount of time with a favoured toy. You can use a
clock or kitchen timer to show when the time is up – but
don’t rely on it exclusively.
� Don’t expect the children to share everything. It is
important that they have some toys and belongings of their
own, so that they can develop individual preferences.
� In general, expect your children to share toys which
you would reasonably expect to be shared by any siblings
close in age – such as Lego, or a seesaw.
the noise from the other children. When you are dealing
with one mishap, you may miss a more serious one.
But there are ways to help keep your children safe:
� Most accidents to under-fives happen at home or in the
garden, so make sure that your house is childproofed.
� If you have stairs, fit a sturdy stair gate at the top and the
bottom, and make sure you use them. Two or more toddlers
on the stairs at the same time is very risky, so be vigilant.
� Buy safety locks for everything from drawers and windows to electrical equipment – and if you want to keep
My twins don’t make friends easily. How can I help? the children out of a room, fit a lock to the door.
Sometimes twins don’t feel much need to play with
� Use over-the-door stoppers to avoid trapping little fingers.
other children. Parents may also feel that extra friends
� Don’t wait until your children are standing/walking to
are unnecessary – especially since arranging social conchildproof higher up. Always keep one step ahead of their
tact can be difficult and tiring. But your children do
development.
need outside friends in order to develop their individual
� Avoid toys such as wooden bricks until the children are
social skills.
old enough to play without hurting each other.
� Mother and toddler groups and twins clubs are good
� Teach them about safety to enlist their support. If they
places to meet other children. Go regularly so that your
want to, inquisitive children will learn how to open locks,
children recognise the people
climb over fireguards and get
there.
round any safety device so
they need to learn for them� Encourage each child to
selves what is unsafe.
invite friends round and
Devise a few clear house
make this a regular event.
rules, such as only go on the
Perhaps one child could
stairs if a grown-up is with
invite someone round while
you, no sitting on window
the other goes somewhere
sills, and don’t touch anyelse – giving them the opporthing electrical. Enforce
tunity to make friends as
them at all times, even if
though they were singletons.
they seem unfairly restrictive
� Make it clear that people
to visitors.
do not have to invite both
Weekends and holidays
children at once – but be
may be a risk time when
prepared for tears when one
both parents are around and
is left out. Arrange somePlaying safe – simple guidelines will ensure that your
can
assume the other is
thing else for the uninvited
children can enjoy themselves without being at risk.
watching the children – so
child – either a visit from a
you will need to decide which of you is actually in charge.
different friend, or some individual time with you.
Many parents are particularly concerned about safety
when they go out of the house and are reluctant to go on
How do I make sure they are safe?
Follow all the usual guidelines for child safety, but bear in their own. Here are some ideas to think about:
mind that two children are capable of reaching further
� Make firm rules, apply them rigorously and enlist the
and higher than one child, and that they are stronger.
co-operation of everyone else who looks after your chilDon’t leave children unattended in the bath or near
dren. For example, if you are in a car park, or crossing the
water, check that radiators are not too hot to touch, keep hot
road, the children must always hold your hand (even if
drinks away from the children, put saucepans and kettles out they are wearing reins or wrist straps).
of reach, and watch out for choking hazards. Do the ironing
� When you are out, make sure that each child is attached
well away from the children – or after they have gone to bed. to you in some way at all times – using reins, wrist straps,
Safety is a challenge when you have two or more chilpushchairs or holding hands. Don’t attach children to
dren of the same age. They can hurt each other, directly
your clothing, as you may not notice if they let go.
or indirectly (for example, by trapping fingers in doors or
� If the children are at playgroup or nursery school, ask if
knocking over furniture). Even a simple object like a pen- you can collect them inside the building. It is hard to keep
cil can become a vicious weapon.
an eye on them outside if they burst out together.
If they are in different places, it is very hard to watch
everything that is happening. The ominous silence that
Find out more by downloading Tamba’s booklet 2, 3 & 4
usually serves as a warning signal may be blotted out by
years for free at www.tamba.org.uk
www.tamba.org.uk
MAY 2009 7
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New
hope
for the
future
The tragic death of Heather Finkill who stepped in front of a lorry only two weeks
after giving birth to twin daughters compelled Maggie Brierton, 38, to write
about her own experience of postnatal depression following the birth of her triplets
I
had had a brief episode of depression following the
death of my father in March 2000. Depression runs in
my family. My two sisters have struggled with the
condition. My episode was manifest as a delayed reaction
when helping my partner after the death of his father the
following year.
I saw my GP who recommended drug treatment and
some sick leave from my demanding clinical psychology
doctorate course. Seroxat and private counselling got me
back on track. However, I gained weight on the medication and had horrible side effects of feeling quite sluggish
and drowsy. I did not want to have to go back on those
particular drugs again.
Gavin and I were planning our wedding after 10 years
of living together. We planned to celebrate the completion
of my course and new job as a qualified clinical psychologist with a family service and a well deserved three-week
honeymoon.
In retrospect we were probably taking on too many
stressful life events at one time. After becoming pregnant
on holiday in New Zealand plans changed. I was elated
8 MAY 2009
y
r
o
t
S
y
M
and ready to start a family. But I still had to manage my
professional life and complete changes to my doctoral
thesis. I finished work at 25 weeks’ gestation. I think I was
more stressed-out than I knew.
When my Aunt Anne died I guess I realised my maternal hormones had kicked in as I could not grieve – my
whole being seemed to be focused on the survival of the
small babies growing within.
David, Gabby and Rory were born by caesarean in June.
During the procedure I was unprepared for my emotional
reactions. Following the incision the babies were taken
rather quickly. The babes were whipped away by capable,
busy, professional, sterile hands to the special care baby
unit. I did not touch or hold a baby until 10 hours later.
I was to attend the graduation ceremony the day my
www.tamba.org.uk
TambaMay09
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THE FACTS ABOUT PND
The symptoms of postnatal depression (PND) are:
� Persistent low mood
� Sense of hopelessness or helplessness
� Tearfulness
� Anxiety and irritability
� Guilt
� Sleep disturbance
� Lack of energy and enthusiasm
� Inability to cope
� Fear of self-harm or hurting the babies
� Hostility or indifference to people you
normally love
� Shame
� Fear of judgment
� Poor concentration
� Loss of libido
� Physical aches and pains
Playing on the beach, above, and enjoying their first day
at school, top, are triplets David, Gabby and Rory Brierton,
pictured left with mum Maggie.
babies left the unit; I didn’t go as I had other needs more
pressing to attend to.
The time in hospital had made me feel quite hostile
and angry regarding outside help and care. I had felt
unheard and managed. My needs were not listened to and
my main goal of leaving hospital with suckling breastfed
babies, although a reality, was supported by very few of
the hospital staff.
The homecoming meant everything – a new start and
we could get on with our new life as a family. The doorbell rarely ceased, the telephone was constant, I really
couldn’t be bothered with these gazing individuals who
piled through the door and stared starry-eyed at our
babies. I concentrated on the wee ones. I accepted all the
help that came through the door – social services two
hours a week, mum and mother-in-law on demand. I was
exhausted and on our second night home I contracted a
high temperature and was unable to feed the babies.
We started them on formula and partial breastfeeds.
This pleased my helpers immensely. I, however, fell into
fitful sleeps between feeds and changes, I dreamt or hallucinated. As I got better I felt the babies slipping away from
me – sometimes I would not hold a child for three or
four feeds. They went to sleep without a goodnight kiss
from their mother.
Though irrational to think I could manage all the
babies, this seemed basically wrong. �
www.tamba.org.uk
The “baby blues” is a term often used to describe the
depressive symptoms following a birth, suffered by
as many as 80% of women. A large proportion of
these women feel better over time and mild symptoms require no treatment. However, for some 7-26%
these feelings worsen and go on for longer and may
only improve with medical, psychological or psychiatric help.
The number of children in a pregnancy does
appear to be associated with the development of
PND. Research has shown a significantly higher rate
of depression among mothers of multiples or even
closely aged siblings. Moreover, these findings are
independent of marital status, socio-economic status,
maternal age, number of children in the household or
disability.
Particularly notable, 34% of twin mothers were
clinically depressed up to five years postnatal.
Highest rates were among bereaved mothers, where
one twin had died, even at five years postnatal.
The studies present a picture of increasing risk of
suffering from PND after a multiple pregnancy: singleton (7-26%), twin (34%) and triplet mothers
(40%). Mothers of multiples appear to have a greater
risk of suffering PND and triplet mothers experience
a greater number of symptoms than singleton and
twin mothers. Furthermore, the condition appears to
be present for longer after a multiple pregnancy and
may still require treatment at four to seven years following the birth.
If you feel you may be suffering from postnatal
depression don’t suffer in silence: speak to your GP or
health visitor about it. If you are not satisfied with your
GP’s initial diagnosis, get another opinion. Sometimes
people tend to say, well you’re bound to be tired and
feeling low and anxious after having multiples.
However, if you don’t feel right follow your gut
feeling. You deserve to have the best support possible so you can fulfil your potential, manage the bad
days and fully enjoy and experience the good times.
MAY 2009 9
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Page 10
‘I have a
toolbox of
magic tricks
to get me
through.
This gives
me much
hope for the
future’
I can’t remember being screened for
postnatal depression. My health visitor
referred me to the local postnatal
depression counselling charity and this
provided a great opportunity for me to
discuss my feelings. But after the first
Christmas I knew things were not
improving and sought help through
my Supertwins support booklet. I
contacted a local mother of four-yearThe smile that hid the pain inside – Maggie and the triplets.
old triplets, we met and she shone a
light of hope for me. Caroline and her husband have five
to have any more medication. I requested a clinical psygirls, they invited us to meet up and it changed our focus. chology referral; I was pretty ashamed about seeking help
They welcomed us to their home and treated our stories from potential colleagues. The sessions were particularly
as normal. I believe my contact with this wonderful family
uncomfortable at first. The techniques and assessment
gave me the strength to continue and access more helpful
similar to what I may have pronounced in a similar case.
support. A local Surestart group offered us three places in a
Later it finally dawned I was a typical case, nothing
twice-weekly crèche. I sought counselling through the
weird or unmanageable or particularly innate to me alone.
Scottish Institute of Human Relations and attended a psyThe psychology sessions were insightful and empowering.
choanalytic counsellor, whom I could truly confide in.
In addition, my GP had recommended Escitalopram
These supports got me through a difficult period.
tablets, an antidepressant medication he reckoned would
In January 2006 we moved house and I was stronger
not cause the side effects I dreaded.
and ready to move on. The children were now two-andNow, a year-and-a-half on, I have stopped taking the
a-half and we needed more space. The initial excitement
tablets and no longer see my psychologist. I have a predisand elation about our new home dissolved in February as
position to become depressed, certain life events and
I felt the familiar symptoms clinging to me once more.
physical stressors will set off a cascade reaction and I will
I was no longer seeing my counsellor and I drifted
go again, one day. However, I am better prepared to care
into my depression and denied it was back. My new
for myself; I have a toolbox of magic tricks to get me
health visitor was wonderful and helped me adjust. My
through. This gives me much hope for the future.
new GP was helpful and encouraged medication. It made
me drowsy and sluggish, I was so hungry all the time.
� Tamba is currently getting a working group together to
After a month’s trial I came off the medication and
look at what the charity can do to raise awareness and
tried to go it alone. I managed to get through summer and provide support for postnatal depression. If you want to get
involved, have experieced it or are an interested health
my mood lifted for the run-up to Christmas. However, I
professional, please email keithreed@tamba.org.uk
bombed worse the following February and I was terrified
10 MAY 2009
www.tamba.org.uk
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Page 11
CLUBS corner
Clubs give Tamba the thumbs-up
C
lubs up and down the country
have given the thumbs-up to
Tamba following a recent survey.
Tamba wants to continue improving
its links with the scores of multiples
clubs and carried out the survey to get
the views of members.
It wants to find out what the charity
is doing well and where it can improve.
Members of 77 twins and higher
multiples clubs took part and 90% of
respondents said that club membership
of £22 per annum was good value for
money.
A resounding 100% felt that having
their club’s details listed on the website
was important and 90% said Tamba’s
quarterly newsletters and magazine
were important.
Tamba’s re-joining/joining packs
met with approval from 80% of respon-
dents, 77% valued research, 70% valued
campaigning, 65% opportunities with
party packs but only half valued
fundraising opportunities.
Of the clubs who took part 17%
had 0-10 members, a third 10-25 members, almost a third 25-50 and the
remainder had more than 50 families.
Half meet at local church halls with
the remainder meeting at local children’s centres or Surestart facilities.
Most of them hold Christmas parties (93%) followed by toddler sessions
(82%) and summer parties (64%), with
only a fifth holding nearly new sales.
Fifty-five clubs have insurance covering them for their work. The main
sources of funding are membership
schemes, fees for play sessions and then
grants or sponsorship from local councils, network funds or awards for all.
THE GOOD . . .
� “A lot of people contact us via your site” and “People are
happy to join knowing we have Tamba membership.”
� “We think Tamba is good value for money and value the support we receive from it. We were lucky to have a visit from the
chief executive and that meant a great deal to our members.”
� “This is a very worthwhile membership and an important part
of our work across a whole range of families and children.”
www.tamba.org.uk
Seventy per cent said they would
like to receive information on fundraising opportunities and potentially joint
applications with Tamba, 63% are interested in attending an annual conference
or participating in an awards scheme to
highlight and share best practice, and
almost 70% are interested in a joint
Tamba membership.
Clubs officer Kate Valentine said:
“My sincere thanks to everyone who
took part in this survey. It is clear there
is a lot of goodwill among clubs towards
our work and we are keen to build a
stronger mutually beneficial relationship with everyone who aims to make
life better for multiple birth families.
“These results give us ideas on how
we can look to develop our work and
we will look to try many of these suggestions in the months to come.”
. . . AND THE NOT-SO-GOOD
� “The club membership pack we received upon joining mentioned the Clarks discount, which gave the impression that as
a club we would be entitled to the discount, without having to
join individually. Could this be clarified to avoid confusion?”
� “We are only a small club and struggle to pay the fee each
year. It is of huge benefit to belong to Tamba (most of our
queries have come via you) but it would be easier if it cost
slightly less.”
MAY 2009 11
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TAMBA fundraising
Help us to help you!
R
aising funds for Tamba has never
been easy since the public, companies and charitable foundations often don’t see Tamba as a “heart
string” cause.
The need for charities supporting
disease and poverty is obvious – but
with Tamba people often ask: “Why do
people need a charity just because they
are expecting more than one baby at a
time? Surely this is a blessing?”
And of course in many ways they
are right. It is a blessing and we are
extremely lucky.
However, we all know that in many
cases pregnancy can come with health
and developmental complications and
additional financial, practical and emotional pressures.
Some readers may have had twins
or triplets as a second or third pregnancy and face the difficulties of raising a
larger family. Others conceived their
multiples as a result of fertility treatment and have already been on an
emotional rollercoaster.
Many of you will have had a joyous
time parenting your multiples with few
added issues. But for others it won’t
have been all plain sailing and we need
your help to support these parents.
Most people are not aware of the:
� Increased pregnancy risks for some
expectant mothers.
� Huge financial burden – especially
for low income families.
� Greater risk of postnatal depression
and isolation.
� Additional pressures experienced
during the school application process.
� Potential relationship pressures.
People tend to raise money for
charities that matter to them, for example cancer charities are often supported
by people who have suffered from the
illness.
The same is true of Tamba, except
people don’t tend to raise funds for us
just in case they have multiple birth
one day.
This makes it hugely difficult for us
to encourage people who are not multiple birth parents, or do not know someone who has struggled as a multiple
birth parent, to raise funds for Tamba.
It is therefore up to us multiple
birth parents to make this case, raise
awareness of the issues and muster the
support. Please help us to help you.
We have numerous projects which
need funding. Some provide ongoing
support, while others are new projects
to support parents suffering with specific issues. These include:
� Support and advice for mothers suffering postnatal depression.
� Information and support for families
whose babies are at risk of Twin to
Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
� Rolling out ante- and prenatal courses nationally and making them more
accessible.
� Updating our resources for parents
who have lost one or more babies.
� Widescale support for thousands via
Twinline (our freephone help line).
� Providing affordable parenting
courses across the UK.
� Campaigning for improvements to
the school admissions process and for
more financial support.
Stuart bids to raise awareness of TTTS
For Stuart Laidlaw and his wife Jo the
trauma of losing their boys to Twin to
Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)
prompted a tremendous fundraising
effort.
The couple, who come from
Doncaster in Yorkshire, lost their babies
at 25 weeks.
Stuart, 29, said: “The diagnosis
made us aware that although we
received fantastic treatment by the specialists, help, advice and much-needed
guidance was difficult to find in the
UK.”
He and 10 of his friends are joining
forces to complete a gruelling triathlon
in Chester on May 31.
They are due to complete a 500m
swim, a 20k bike ride and a 5k run.
Stuart added: “We wanted to raise
awareness of TTTS.
“We are aiming to raise £5,000 to
help Tamba provide much-needed support to the parents and families who
experience this.
“It will enable Tamba to provide
support and advice to parents and clinicians that at present is not widely available in the UK.”
Visit Stuart’s facebook page for
updates. Facebook group “TTTS
triathlon – Chester 31 May 2009”.
You can sponsor Stuart by visiting
www.justgiving.com/ttts
Stuart and Jo – difficult to find help.
Remember – Tamba needs to raise at least £7,500 per week to continue providing its
12 MAY 2009
www.tamba.org.uk
g its
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TAMBA courses
What can I do? An A to Z of
fundraising ideas
A Auction of promises, be a Tamba
ambassador and promote our
work and fundraising events like
runs and skydives.
B Bring and buy sale, BBQ, barn
dance, British London 10k Run
(email sarahnewell@tamba.org.uk
for a place).
C Car boot sale, cake sale, coffee
morning, climb Kilimanjaro.
D Dinner dance, disco, display a
poster for a Tamba running
event or Skydive at your school,
gym or work place.
E Expert seminar, Easter egg hunt.
F Fashion show, fancy dress party,
football tournament.
G Guess the weight, game show, golf
tournament, Great North Run,
Great South Run (contact sarahnewell@tamba.org.uk for a place).
H Halloween ball.
I It’s a knockout.
J Jumble sale.
K Karaoke evening.
L Lunch money.
M Masked ball, music quiz, mystery party.
N Non-uniform day, New Year’s
Eve party.
O Outward bound weekend, odd
jobs.
P Pancake day.
Q Quiz night.
R Raffle, race night.
S Sponsored slim, swim, headshave, run or skydive.
T Treasure hunt, tombola, Teddy
bears’ picnic.
U University Challenge, uniform
days.
V Valentine’s ball, variety show.
W Whist drive, wine tasting, who’s
that baby?
X Xmas party or panto.
Y Your own lotto.
Z Zany party.
Sarah Newell is happy to support
your fundraising efforts with
sponsorship forms, advice and by
promoting your event on Tamba’s
website, or a mention in the
magazine. Get in touch with her at
sarahnewell@tamba.org.uk
much-needed services
www.tamba.org.uk
Exciting courses
on offer for our
members in 2009
U
nique courses from Tamba are
exclusive to individual members
and available at an amazingly low price.
Book now at www.tamba.org.uk as
places are strictly limited.
Parenting With Multiples in
Mind Workshops
Cost: Only £5 per person
(lunch available locally)
Parents of multiple birth children experience unique challenges which are
sometimes not understood or even
acknowledged in mainstream services.
They can compare themselves
unfavourably to parents of singletons
and feel guilty because they are not able
to live up to their own expectations of
being a parent. This one-day workshop
(10.30am-4.30pm) will help parents to
understand that rather than trying to
achieve perfect parenting a more realistic aim is to be a “good enough” parent.
The topics considered are being a parent of multiples, good enough parenting, family relationships, individuality,
starting nursery or school, play and
development, and looking after yourself
and your relationships. These workshops are run by Janet Rimmer, a qualified parenting educator and adult trainer, who specialises in multiple birth par-
enting courses and training for health
professionals who work with multiple
birth families. The schedule is:
16 May Guildford, Surrey (fully
booked)
28 June Birmingham (fully booked)
18 July Norwich
5 September Liverpool
3 October Exeter
17 October London.
Further dates are currently being
planned for Cardiff, Stirling,
Newcastle, St Albans, Brighton and
Manchester.
Being a Parent of Multiples
Cost: £5 per person (lunch £5)
Creche available at £15 per child
This special one-day conference on
Saturday, 6 June will be relevant to
families who are expecting or already
have toddlers or older children. There
will be workshops on preparing for
birth and the early weeks (Dr Carol
Cooper, author of Twins and Multiple
Births – the Essential Parenting
Guide); behaviour and relationships
(Audrey Sandbank, author of Twins
and the Family); and meeting children’s educational needs (Anne
Thomas, Tamba Primary School
Honorary Consultant).
‘100% of past attendees on our
parenting courses would recommend
them to other parents of multiples’
(feedback collected during 2005-7)
EXCLUSIVE TO MEMBERS – JUST £5 PER PROGRAMME
MAY 2009 13
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TAMBA campaigns
All the
advice
you
need
– for
free!
P
arents expecting multiples can
get all the advice they need
thanks to Tamba’s new Healthy
Multiple Pregnancy Guide,
which is available now to download for free at our website.
The guide is a result of the
2008 Tamba Health and Lifestyle
survey which collected the
views of more than 1,300 mothers of twins and triplets.
The survey highlighted the
need for a new, easy-to-read pregnancy
guide with specific advice on antenatal
care, nutrition, lifestyle, pregnancy
complications and preparing for the
birth of your babies.
As a result Tamba published the
guide, which is part of its long-term
Best Start in Life campaign. The campaign seeks to improve the health and
developmental outcomes of multiple
birth children.
The guide covers everything from
what to expect from antenatal care and
coping with common pregnancy conditions to preparing for the birth, work,
finance and entitlements.
14 MAY 2009
Author Dr Erika Fraser said:
“Although you may be treated as ‘high
risk’, you should always keep in mind
that having more than one baby is a
natural process. The label of ‘high risk’
does not mean that you will experience
complications, only that doctors need
to monitor you more carefully.
“Many mothers find this extra level
of antenatal care reassuring as it gives
them a chance to ask questions and discuss how their pregnancy is progressing.
“We hope this guide will be a useful
resource for expectant parents and will
help give the best possible pregnancy
outcome – a healthy mother and babies.”
Keith Reed, Tamba chief executive,
added: “Many thanks to Pampers and
all our generous members and supporters who made a donation and helped us
publish up-to-date authoritative information to expectant multiple birth
mums.”
� More than 400 maternity units and
fertility clinics across the UK have
received copies of the guide along with
publicity materials to raise awareness of
this valuable resource. Already hundreds of parents-to-be have downloaded it. Make sure you let expectant
mums and new parents know about it.
www.tamba.org.uk
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TAMBA campaigns
How our mums
are being failed
B
ased on the results of our mums’
health and lifestyle survey in
2008, Tamba’s groundbreaking
Multiple Failings report highlights a
series of weakness in the provision of
support and care for our families during pregnancy and beyond.
The report is targeted at policy
makers, researchers and service
providers and makes 12 specific policy
recommendations.
One of its most startling findings
relates to the experience of mums who
had one or more babies in special care.
What we found
Just under a half (44%) of mothers of
twins said at least one of their babies
had been in special care and the figure
was much higher (91%) for mothers of
triplets.
Although 87% of families with
babies requiring special care were able
to stay together with their siblings and
parents, a significant proportion (13%),
or one in every eight mothers were
separated from their babies.
Regions where respondents had
experienced the highest levels of separation were in the South-West (26%),
East (22%) and Wales (19%). In many
cases, if respondents hadn’t argued so
passionately to keep their babies together, this figure for separation could have
ended up higher than 13% (nearing
20%).
Barriers to seeing their babies
included: lack of mobility following
caesareans; no staff or wheelchairs
available to help; further siblings waiting at home; and being made to leave
the “healthy” twin behind on the ward
www.tamba.org.uk
while they visited the other sibling in
the Special Care Baby Unit.
One in eight multiple birth
mums with a baby in special
care are separated from them
“I was not permitted to take my ‘well’
baby into SCBU with me to see my
daughter who was in special care – this
was extremely stressful as I constantly had
to leave one baby on the ward alone while
I visited SCBU, and had to breastfeed
them separately, meaning I never got any
rest. I do not think the hospital has
thought about this aspect of care and do not
think it is conducive to the wellbeing of
mother or babies, or safe for the baby left
on the ward alone.”
Worryingly, the survey data suggests
that the situation appears to be deteriorating, with hospitals being increasingly
unable to accommodate families
together when babies require special
care. Whereas only 6% of respondents
were separated over five years ago, the
figure had risen to 19% within the last
year.
Tamba chief executive Keith Reed
said: “This is a really useful insight into
the problems many of our families face
and will help us press our case with
Government.
“It has also helped shape our new
projects. The difficulties faced by many
in SCBU means we are reviewing how
best we can help families in these circumstances. Members are welcome to
send their ideas to me.”
Members can download the Multiple
Failings report at www.tamba.org.uk
Tamba’s recommendations
to Government include:
� All expectant mothers of multiples being seen within six weeks
of identification of multiple pregnancy by a designated consultant
with experience of multiples.
� All Trusts to provide access to
parent education classes for mothers of multiples within six weeks
of identification of a multiple
pregnancy.
� Each hospital to have a dedicated midwife on maternity wards
with experience of supporting
women with breastfeeding
multiples.
� More investment in special care
units so that mothers can be
accommodated at their local hospital and priority given to mothers
of multiples, so that mothers and
babies are not separated after
birth.
� All parents of multiples to be
offered home visits by trained
community midwives and health
to ensure early identification of
PND and continuing support
where needed.
� Fathers of multiples being
given two weeks paid paternity
leave per child, not per birth (ie
four weeks paternity leave for
twins and six weeks for triplets).
� Exploring options for increasing practical help for new mothers
of multiples, including grants to
hire mother’s help and councilorganised respite care.
MAY 2009 15
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A family where everything came in twos – pictured from left (main
photograph) are devoted sisters Victoria, Hannah, Helen and Jennie.
There is no problem that sisters cannot confront,
combat, plot against, ignore, make fun of, drown
in chocolate sauce . . . or run over with the car,
says Jennie Walker
O
ver the years, my twin sisters
and I have probably used every
one of those problem-solving
techniques bar the running-over bit
(but there’s still time).
My sisters and I are very close, but
let me explain. I am from a family of
two sets of identical twins. My twin sister Helen and I are 34 this year and our
younger sisters Hannah and Victoria
are 30. Surprised? Not half as much my
parents were in the pre-scan days of the
1970s NHS.
There’s no history of twins on my
mum’s side of the family, yet she was
pretty sure of her facts when she spoke
to our GP during both pregnancies,
telling him that she could feel two
babies kicking.
In pregnancy one he assured her it
was just first-time jitters. In pregnancy
two he claimed wishful thinking and
mathematical improbabilities. Oh how
she laughed . . .
16 MAY 2009
Growing up as one of this doubly
blessed unit must have been unique to
outsiders.
To us it was just normal life: twin
buggies, twin dolls and matching everything else.
We even had two golden retrievers,
so in our world – just like Noah’s –
everything came in twos.
Hannah reminded me the other day
that our small family home gave a new
meaning to the word “cosy”, but I suppose we could at least save on the heating bills.
Growing up in such close
proximity to each other meant that
privacy was relative and sharing second nature. Almost like what’s mine is
yours and what’s yours is ours, and for
the most part nobody really seemed to
mind.
It’s interesting that as adults we’ve
all had long-term stints of living quite a
distance away from our twin; some-
Twice
times even different continents and
time zones.
I have no doubt that for both
sides this was probably equally as
empowering, upsetting, inspiring and
frustrating.
As children and often as teenage
twins your points of reference and
experiences are pretty much similar,
therefore closeness and understanding
www.tamba.org.uk
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FACT FILE
In the UK about one in every
65 pregnancies results in a
multiple birth (around 11,000
each year). Of these, around
one third are monozygotic or
identical twins.
There has been a rise in
the number of multiple births
over the last 20 years which is
attributed to the use of fertility
treatments, increased survival
rates of premature babies and
women starting their families
later. Multiples are also born
more frequently to older or
larger mothers.
Identical twins are NOT
hereditary and therefore if you
are an identical twin your
chance of having twins is the
same as the rest of the general population.
In contrast, if you are a
non-identical twin you have
an increased chance of having twins yourself (around a
one in 15/20 risk).
Twinning appears to be
carried down the maternal line
– so if your mother is a nonidentical twin your chance of
having twins may be increased
but not if it is your father.
Members can download
the Multiple Birth Fact Sheet
for free at the Tamba website
while higher multiples can
also sign up for our supertwins support group.
ce the blessings
comes naturally. What we have found
during the ups and downs of our
twenties and thirties is that it’s not
the air miles but the heart miles that
matter, and how far you are prepared
to go to let your twin know that you
care.
Helen and I work on a different
emotional level to our sisters, as typical
Pisces to their Gemini.
www.tamba.org.uk
There are times when we feel that
nothing less than a staged Oprah-style
“intervention” will do, complete
with psychoanalysis and cushion
punching, whereas Hannah and
Victoria are more likely to say what
they need to say, get it out of their systems and then carry on with the
supermarket shopping.
Who’s to say which way works
best? The great news is that it does.
Just like any other partnership,
being a twin is about love, support and
gratitude.
After all, once you’ve confronted,
combated, plotted, ignored, made fun
of or drowned in chocolate sauce (a
quote I found on a Hallmark card) the
chances are you’ve forgotten what the
problem was anyway!
MAY 2009 17
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TAMBA family
Double the
pleasure
Doctor, dermatologist and a
Fellow of the Royal College of
Physicians, Miriam Stoppard
is the UK’s best known expert on
pregnancy and birth. She is also a
mother wth a growing collection
of grandchildren, including twins
‘
I
’m a much better granny (to 11 grandchildren) than I was a mum (of four boys). In
fact it became clear to me within a short
time of my first grandchild being born that I
was put on earth to be a granny.
I never thought that about my parental
role. As a full-time working mum there wasn’t a spare moment to ponder the purpose of
life. As a grandmother, however, I’m there for
two generations – my children and their children, a double reward.
My ninth and tenth grandchildren were
identical twin girls. It very quickly became
obvious that you don’t really know what it’s
like bringing up babies until you have to cope
with two of them at the same time. It was
like an ice-cold shower for all of us and occasionally still is. The girls, Maggie and Evie,
are now just over two years old and have an
older sister of five so it’s often three at a time.
It didn’t take long to discover that there
was precious little respite for anyone caring
for the twins, one of them or their big sister
needing attention most of the time. We were
all worn out, especially my daughter-in-law
who was determined to breastfeed her baby
girls. At eight weeks I pleaded with her to
stop. She was ashen, eyes glazed over,
exhausted and I feared for her health.
My son, a 24/7 hands-on dad (he’s an
18 MAY 2009
actor and when not acting he’s the children’s
primary carer) was visibly staggering under
the load and we all decided to revise our
expectations just in order to keep going – to
employ a few short-cuts and impose a more
carefully planned regime.
I don’t, however, feel there’s any difference between being a granny to one child
and to twins. The other night the twins (and
their big sister) were all clamouring to sit on
my lap.
“You’ll just have to share granny – Evie
your turn first, then it’s Maggie’s turn and
then Esmé, because you’re the big sister
you’re last.” I’ve seen how babies can learn to
wait and to share and to take turns. Twins
have to, but they’ve shown me all children
can if they’re brought up to it.
I try to give equal attention to each child
and by and large I do, although it’s very
exhausting. I’m a willing hands-on gran if
asked to be and sometimes I slip straight into
bed if I’ve been on duty over a weekend.
I’m told when twins reach three years old
a light appears at the end of the tunnel. Well,
our light appeared some time ago, not just
because things got easier and we got better,
but also because you get double the charm,
double the love, double the pleasure and
double the enchantment.
www.tamba.org.uk
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F I O N A
G I B S O N
W
hen our twin boys were
ured was that things would
younger, their bedtime
change yet again, and that in
routine was a life-saver
what felt like the blink of an eye
for us. Friends would bemoan
we’d arrive at the stage we’re at
“the witching hour” as they called
now – with a couple of 12-yearit – the huge swathe of time after
olds who can happily stay up
kids’ tea, comprising bathtime,
until 10.30pm (or much later, if
storytime and bedtime. “Talk
allowed). Being realistic, we can
about the long haul,” one friend bemoaned. “It seems to
hardly shovel them off to bed at 7.30pm with a Thomas
go on for weeks. I feel like I’ve aged 15 years by the time I the Tank Engine book. All of this is okay, and I actually
finally crowbar them into bed.”
love our boys hanging out downstairs with us – at least,
Another friend calculated that the “winding-down
until Jimmy and I fancy some privacy.
period” – from tea to bed – took something like four-andNow, if we’re gossiping about someone down the road,
a-half hours a day. “That’s more than half a working day!” one of our boys will chip in, “D’you think they’ll get
she spluttered. To my husband Jimmy and I, this was
divorced?” Occasionally, Jimmy and I try to communicate
okay – because it was the one time of day when we actuin our terrible French – but that no longer works, as our
ally knew what we were doing, and could pretty much do boys are now learning French. Sometimes we’ve even
it on autopilot, instead of madly winging it. Things might resorted to going out into the garden to talk – at night, in
have gone awry sometimes, with the odd tantrum or sud- the gushing rain, all to steal a few minutes’ privacy. Even
den allergic reaction to lying down, but generally we
then, one of our boys will stand at the front door shouting,
knew where we were
“What are you doing
headed (ie, straight to
out there?”
the kitchen drawer for
Recently, I was
the corkscrew, thank
struck by a virus and
you very much!).
was actually going to
Before we had Sam
bed before our sons.
and Dex, Jimmy and I
Now that is a weird
weren’t routiney peoscenario. Although
ple. Yet it soon became
Jimmy was still up,
apparent that routine
everything felt topsy
was necessary to our
turvey – as if I was
survival. Forget that
shirking my duties as a
laissez-faire, “they can
mum. And yes, despite
go to bed whenever
the fact that their father
Make the most of child-free evenings or there’ll be is completely compethey’re ready” attitude.
Which is similar, in fact, tears before bedtime – and that’s just the adults . . . tent, I’d still lie there,
to saying that a toddler
fretting that one of the
“will stop wolfing those sweets when he’s ready”. Yes –
children might try to abseil out of a window, or decide to
when he’s sick. So, after our first six months as parents –
fry chips. It’s bonkers, of course – but still.
which was completely chaotic sleep-wise – we finally
Soon, though, they’ll no doubt be staying up later than
sleep-trained our boys and started to enjoy adult evenings
us – then we’ll have no choice but to slink off and leave
together. Okay, when I say enjoy, I mean we were
them. In fact, I suspect that this sea-change is imminent.
slumped on the sofa, stuffing in chocolate and randomly
You sense that roles are being reversed when one of your
flicking at the remote, but you get the idea.
sons looks over, sees you lying on the sofa with eyes
Things did become easier. Because the boys had a set
closed and mouth lolling open, and says, “Mum, look at
bedtime, babysitters could take over without too much
the state of you. I really think you need to go to bed.”
hassle – and we could go out, knowing that we wouldn’t
� Fiona’s latest novel, Mummy Said the F-word, is out
come home to discover our willing friend collapsed in a
now (Hodder, £6.99)
heap in the corner, clutching the gin. What we hadn’t fig-
Sweet
dreams
www.tamba.org.uk
MAY 2009 19
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TAMBA discounters
One click to
Click on to our new website and check out our new user-friendly
discounters guide. As before only members can benefit from
these discounts.
It is broken down into shopping departments to make it much
easier for you to find a company who can supply the product or
service you are looking for at a Tamba discounted price.
New companies are joining our discounters list every day so be
sure to check it before making a purchase to make sure you get
the best value for your family.
Read on to find out more about the new departments and what
you can find in them. More departments are planned and will
include regional and local services
Search for play centres and
leisure attractions across the
DAYS OUT
country which offer discounted
entrance for Tamba members.
The list currently includes attractions in Cheshire, West Yorkshire,
Derbyshire, Leicestershire, North Humberside,
Kent, Sheffield, Middlesex, Tyne and Wear,
Essex and Cleveland. There are new attractions
being added all the time so keep checking for
those days when you just need to keep the children occupied!
SHOES
20 MAY 2009
Clarks is the largest of our
shoe retailer discounters but it
isn’t the only one. Check out
other brands and online discounters offering 10% off shoes
With more than 25 online companies within this store selling
NURSERY
everything for those early years
STORES
including sleep solutions, nursery
and child furniture, car seats and
feeding accessories, there is sure to be
an outlet with exactly what you are looking for.
There are even companies with personal shoppers to help expectant parents ensure they have
everything they need before the babies arrive.
This department includes
companies supplying gift items,
GIFTS
stationery and cards mostly online.
We have companies which supply
twins and multiple birth announcement cards, baby clothes, toys, jewellery, memory boxes, personalised items for children and
adults and books. There’s sure to be something
to suit all occasions.
www.tamba.org.uk
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TAMBA discounters
save you £££
This department not only
includes online and local retailers
of maternity wear but also offers
other services available to expectant
mums. These include a growing list of
companies offering techniques to help to prepare for birth such as hypnobirthing and relaxation therapies.
MATERNITY
WEAR &
SERVICES
We’ve got so much more than just
toys here. The department features
more than 17 companies offering
discounts of up to 20% on toys,
DVDs, books and party items. While
the majority of the companies are online retailers
there are a few local stores in the list too.
TOYS,
BOOKS,
PARTIES
With more than 14 holiday companies to choose from both at
HOLIDAYS
home and abroad there is bound to
be something to suit your family.
The options include cottages, farms,
holiday parks and hotels in the UK, camping
and mobile homes and villas in Europe as well
as companies supplying all the products you
need to take a family with young children on
holiday.
The Baby Changing department
features more than 20 companies
NAPPIES
supplying everything you need for
baby changing including re-usable
and eco-friendly nappies, natural wipes
and creams, changing mats and nappy wrappers.
They offer up to 10% discount to Tamba members. When you need double or triple everything
it’s sure to help with the cost.
www.tamba.org.uk
FINANCE
& LEGAL
SERVICES
This growing section includes
companies providing financial
advisers, solicitors and insurance
companies offering preferential rates
in vouchers to Tamba members.
These companies offer discounts of up to 20% on baby and
children’s clothes both online and
locally including christening gowns
and swim clothes. There’s also a section for premature baby clothes retailers.
BABY
& KIDS
CLOTHES
BUGGIES,
OUT &
ABOUT
This department incorporates
stockists of twin and triplet buggies
as well as other products for when
out and about including buggy
boards, baby carriers and family bikes.
Companies offering products
and services to help educate your
children or prepare them for school
are featured here. They include local
classes, educational DVDs and namelabelling for school clothes.
CLASSES &
EDUCATION
OTHER
SUPPORT
SERVICES
Look here to find discounts
including zygosity testing, travel
products and services and parenting
magazine subscriptions.
This section has more than 10
FEEDING & companies offering discounts on
everything you need for bottle feedWEANING
ing, breastfeeding and weaning your
babies including the food itself!
MAY 2009 21
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TAMBA tested
Buggy best buys
– what you think
Looking for a buggy? As the single biggest
investment item for new multiple parents –
unless you find yourself forced to change
your car – you’ve got to get it right.
Tamba has carried out an online buggy
survey and almost 1,000 members
responded which will help form our online
guide, due out later this year.
EasyWalker Duosky
RRP £490
Three member reviews
You can attach a Maxi Cosi Cabrio or
Cabri Fix car seat to the frame with our
adapters. You can now put two car seats
on the DUO, a great solution for parents of twins. Supplied with a bumper
bar, sun canopy, baggage basket, two
seats and a rain cover for the seats. The
carrycot is available separately. Available
in eight colours in the UK. Children
22 MAY 2009
In the meantime we’ve reviewed four of the
latest buggies to give you a taste of our
new guide.
Some buggies have had multiple reviewers
and others only one because they come
from your response to our online survey.
For full reviews keep your eyes peeled on
the website www.tamba.org.uk
face away from you and both seats can
be adjusted individually to three settings,
including near horizontal. All reviewers
confirmed that you can get the buggy
through a disabled access door in a public place. Sixty-seven per cent said you
could always negotiate kerbs one-handed while the remaining 33.3% said it was
only possible sometimes. The buggy has
swivel wheels and the ability to turn on
a sixpence should you need to turn to
chase after a child. All reviewers thought
the buggy could be resold after four
years and considered it value for money.
They all said they would recommend it
to others.
Dimensions: Unfolded 76cm wide,
folded 89 x 76 x 50cm, open 109 x 76 x
98-109cm max, width 76cm
Suitable from birth to around four years
Stockists: Currently available from
Tamba discounters www.twinsuk.co.uk
and www.twins-store.co.uk
Comments: “This is a major investment but not a moment regretted buying it and can truly recommend to
everybody.”
“If you want a sturdy buggy suitable for
town and country. I went jogging with it
without a problem. Only problem is it is
heavy in and out of the car. A wonderful
buggy, I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
Airbuggy Mimi Double
RRP £559.99 basic, £649 with all
accessories
One member review
This buggy takes the Maxi Cosi
www.tamba.org.uk
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TAMBA tested
Cabrio car seat with adaptors.
Available in five colours. Children face
away from you and both seats can be
adjusted individually to three settings,
including near horizontal. The reviewer confirmed that you can get the
buggy through a disabled access door
in a public place. It was also confirmed
that you can negotiate kerbs onehanded and the buggy has swivel
wheels enabling you to turn on a six
pence should you need to change
direction to chase after a child. The
reviewer thought the buggy could be
resold after four years, considered it
value for money and would recommend
it to others.
Dimensions: L112cm, W73cm,
H100cm
Suitable from birth to around 30kgs
Stockists: Currently available from
two Tamba discounters, Mothercare and
Parentsupermarket.com
Comments: “This is suitable for
twins or baby with older sibling. It is
ideal for both the town and country. It
is really good quality and easy to
maintain.”
iCandy Pear
RRP £566.99 plus optional extras
Forty-one member reviews
Car seat adaptors (which are available
www.tamba.org.uk
separately) enable you to connect two
Maxi Cosi Cabrio bar seats. Colour
choice – black. There are various
options for how your babies or toddlers
can face and both the seats can be
adjusted individually to a number of
positions. Every reviewer confirmed
that you can get the buggy through a
disabled access door in a public space.
The buggy has swivel wheels and
27.5% said that you can negotiate kerbs
one-handed while 25% disagreed,
47.5% felt that it was possible sometimes but not always. Eighty-nine per
cent of testers said that you could turn
on a sixpence to change direction
quickly while three per cent said they
couldn’t. 66.7% of reviewers thought
the buggy could be re-sold after four
years and 71.8% considered it value for
money. 89.5% would recommend it to
others.
Dimensions: L105cm, W59cm,
H99cm
Suitable from birth up to three years
Stockists: Visit www.icandyuk.com
Comments: “A brilliant pram for
twins. The design of the carry cots
needs to be looked at as they are supposed to be used until six months but
mine were out of it by four months.
They are also not so well protected as
single carry cots as without a harness
and pram apron doesn’t come up very
high, also annoying bar to get feet
under. The pushchair which lies flat
with the cosytoes is excellent and my
boys sleep for hours in it. So easy to
transport and excellent to be able to
put car seats on the frame. I love it.”
“Nice buggy, looks good and interesting, but don’t be mistaken, once you
use it you will find faults. For me living in London it was easy to get
around but if shopping there was not
much room. Rain covers were okay
but took up a lot of space when
underneath. Once the twins hit 18
months it was not practical, as they
just did not seem to sit in the seat
comfortably.”
Hauck Fun For Kids
Roadster Duo SL
RRP £219.99
Two member reviews
Available in Circle Navy. This is a forward-facing stroller and both seats can
be adjusted individually to five positions. Both reviewers confirmed that
you can get the buggy through a disabled access door in a public space. The
buggy has swivel wheels and one
reviewer thought they could negotiate
kerbs easily while the other said it was
possible sometimes. It is possible to
turn on a sixpence if necessary to
change direction quickly. Both reviewers thought it unlikely that the buggy
would be saleable after four years. Only
one reviewer felt it was value for
money and would recommend it to
others.
Dimensions: L95cm, W76 cm,
H104cm
Suitable from birth
Stockists: Visit www.hauckuk.com
Comments: “Good value for money,
roomy enough for growing babies, easy
to use.”
“I can’t emphasise enough how poorly
made and hard to push this buggy is.”
MAY 2009 23
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TAMBA families
Look alike?
Act alike?
Dress alike?
Not likely . . .
While some parents battle to have their children accepted
as inviduals, it has never been an issue for Karen Shave,
mum to 11-year-olds Andy and Isabel. Just like Tamba
she encourages individuality, says Jane Williams
T
hey have never dressed alike,
they don’t look alike, they don’t
even act alike – but Andy and
Isabel Shave are most definitely
twins.
For Midland mum Karen Shave
the prospect of having twins was
always on the cards since her mum is
a twin, oddly enough also with a boy
sibling.
But with having a boy and a girl
Karen feels she has never experienced
the typical “twins experience” with
most onlookers not even realising
Andy and Isabel were twins.
Karen said: “Apart from the initial
difficulties of looking after two babies
I hardly think of them as twins. I
have always treated them as two children with their own very separate
identities.
“They have never shared anything about their appearance and
they are completely different personality-wise.
“I know many people who have
24 MAY 2009
twins say their children share a common bond or empathy, but I have
never felt that’s been the case with
Andy and Isabel.
“Twins are often also dressed
alike, but of course with having a boy
and a girl that’s never been an issue.
They behave as individuals and that’s
how we see them.
“Apart from the odd quirky
thing, like having the same filling in
the same equivalent tooth at the
same time, they are like chalk and
cheese.
“Andy is a typical boy who loves
being out on his bike, or playing
football, whereas Isabel in many ways
is a typical girl who likes quieter pursuits such as being in the house playing music and drawing.
”Also because they are a boy and a
girl most people don’t even realise
they are twins, unless they know us,
and they are treated just like any
other brother and sister, which of
course is what they are.”
www.tamba.org.uk
TambaMay09
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TAMBA families
‘They have never shared anything
about their appearance and they are
completely different personality-wise’
Chalk and cheese – most people don’t realise that Andy and Isabel are twins.
FACT FILE
Tamba trustees considered the
published research and advice
from professionals on the
importance of encouraging individuality in multiples and produced a policy as a guide to
best practice. Some of the
handy hints include:
� Use first names – rather than
twins or triplets. Encourage others to do the same.
� Try to encourage individuality
from an early age – ideally
around 18 months onwards as
multiple birth children begin to
develop a sense of themselves.
� Make it easy for other people
to identify who is who with dif-
www.tamba.org.uk
ferent hairstyles or outfits.
� Compare them with their peer
group rather than each other.
Be careful not to label one as
good the other as bad.
� Treat each one as an individual and recognise individual
achievements.
� Do not compare one to the
detriment of the other.
� As they get older try to
encourage individual activities
and interests.
Members can access more
information by downloading the
Tamba booklet Years Two, Three
and Four from our website for
free.
MAY 2009 25
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Better support for families
in those vital early years
T
he most wonderful moments in my
life have been the births of my
children. And at those special
moments, when those I love most were
most dependent on others, the
National Health Service gave my family superb care.
So when I became an MP, and plans
were floated for cutbacks in maternity
services, I was delighted that David
Cameron put the defence of those acute
services at the heart of our health policy.
But, vital as good maternity services
are, they’re only one part of the picture
when it comes to giving our children
the best possible start in life. What happens in the vital weeks and months after
childbirth matter crucially. And I know
myself, as well as from friends, families
and other parents, that these first
months can often be particularly stressful. Especially for first-time parents.
You can easily feel overwhelmed
and under-supported. Fathers struggle
to adjust to a new role, while mothers
face huge new responsibilities just at
the moment their body is crying out
for rest.
Postnatal depression afflicts many
thousands yet it’s still a scandalously
under-reported and under-appreciated
condition.
Finances are also put under significant additional strain, often much more
so than expected. And it’s no surprise,
Michael Grove, MP for
Surrey Heath and Shadow
Secretary for Children,
Schools and Families, sets out
Conservative plans to support
new parents and provide the
best start in life for all
although desperately sad, that the most
vulnerable time for relationships, with
the highest incidence of break-ups, is in
the year after the birth of a child. Just
when families have so much to celebrate, they come under the greatest
pressure. That’s why a government
which wants to make us a truly familyfriendly country has to act.
David Cameron has asked Andrew
Lansley, the Shadow Secretary of State
for Health, and I to investigate what we
can do to help parents in the crucial
first months and early years when the
pressures are so intense, and the conditions are often set for children’s futures.
He wants to ensure every child gets
the best possible start, with government
acting to help support families at this
time. David knows that the state doesn’t have all the answers – one of the
reasons why he’s so supportive of civil
society groups such as Homestart,
which allow experienced parents to
help new mums and dads learn the
ropes and cope with the stresses.
But he also believes we have a duty
to investigate what works best for families and learn from countries, such as
the Netherlands, where children enjoy
much better outcomes than we do here.
The Dutch system of kraamzorgs,
or maternity nurses for all, helps parents in the vital first few days, ensuring
there’s an experienced extra pair of
hands to guarantee both mother and
baby get rest, while providing expertise
on everything from bathing to breastfeeding.
David has asked us to see what we
can learn from Holland and apply in
the UK. If we can provide a better level
of support for parents in the first
months, we may be able to help crack
some of the problems of inequality and
social mobility which hold us back as a
country, by ensuring that every child
gets the sort of support that currently
only the wealthier can buy.
YES WE ARE TWINS
for
podee
Podee, the answer to your prayers for help when
feeding your twins.
The unique design of Podee allows you to feed both of your babies at the same
time whether in the home or out strolling or shopping.
Podee helps to alleviate colic and reflux by preventing air from entering the
feeding system.
See my website www.yeswearetwins.co.uk for full details and how to
purchase the Podee Baby Feeding System.
Podee conforms to all the latest British and European
standards and has been in use since 1988.
www.yeswearetwins.co.uk
Due to continual upgrading the design on the bottle might differ from that in the picture
26 MAY 2009
www.tamba.org.uk
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BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
discounters
BABYLICIOUS and
Kiddylicious great
tasting food range of meals for babies
and toddlers. Real food made like
mums make at home and snap-frozen
for freshness.
Now with a delicious range of healthy
fruit snacks for refuelling on-the-go.
Tamba members get a 10% discount on
orders by visiting our online shop
www.babylicious.co.uk
Visit the Tamba website discount
section for more information.
LEWIS: Guy and Hanna Lewis would like to announce
the safe arrival of their identical twin boys Mariusz
Anthony Lewis and Francis Chinery Lewis who were
born at 36+3 weeks on 3rd February weighing 5lb 5oz
and 4lb15oz.
LITTLECOTT: Nick and Donna are delighted to
announce the safe arrival of their identical twin boys,
Jacob Sebastian (5lb 2oz) and Isaac Alexander (4lb).
Our gorgeous boys arrived 5 weeks early on 29th
September 2008. With special thanks to all the NICU
staff at St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey, for their exceptional care and dedication.
MARCHANT: Wendy and Ben Marchant from
Mayland in Essex would like to announce the arrival of
twin girls Sophie Isabel and Emily Rose, born on
Christmas Day 2008. The perfect Christmas
present! Sophie weighed 6lb 10oz and Emily weighed
5lb 1oz. Three-year-old big sister Alice loves her new
little sisters and is being a big help.
ROBINSON: Alison and Mark Robinson would like to
announce the safe arrival of Natasha Stacey (5lb 4oz)
born at 4.12am and Freddy George (6lb 2oz) born at
4.14am on 12/1/09. Born after 37 weeks and after 4
days in hospital both were allowed home and are
doing well.
WARREN: Karl and Georgie Warren are pleased to
announce the arrival of twin girls Charley Rose (4.4lb)
and Taylor Mae (5.5lb) by C-section on 30th
November 2008.
Announce the birth of your multiples
in Twins, Triplets and More. You will
receive a gift and an additional copy
of TT&M.
Please send your announcement to
Sarah Newell in the Tamba offices with
a cheque for £7.50.
Birth announcements are kindly
sponsored by Twins Things.
DIRECTORY
Apprehensive about taking your twins abroad?
Why not rent our brand new 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house in Spain?
30 minutes from Alicante or Murcia airport, 10 minutes drive from
the beach. On the edge of a traditional Spanish village. Fully equipped
for twins. Swimming pool. Roof terrace.
For more details
email: louisa.priestley@sky.com
or call Louisa on 0115 875 6232
Brackenborough Hall Coach House Holidays
3 self-catering apartments for 1 to 24
Equipped for twins to quads
Working farm near Louth, Lincolnshire
Contact Paul & Flora Bennett: 01507 603193
www.BrackenboroughHall.com
DIRECTORY
DOUBLE MOUNTAIN BUGGY
Navy blue, rain and sun covers, good condition, £300 ono.
Alison 01359 269178 (Bury St Edmunds)
Holiday home ideal for
multiples in Cornwall
with discount for
TAMBA members!
www.cornwalldreams.co.uk or call Jerry on 01295 720365
CORNWALL DREAMS HOLIDAY
HOME Why go abroad? Cornish holiday
home sleeps eight. With two pools, kids
play area, bar, restaurant, spa and gym
on site you will not need to go far.
We are offering Tamba members a
12.5% discount on all bookings made
(excluding summer holidays).
Visit www.cornwalldreams.co.uk or call
01295 720741 and speak to Jerry.
MONSTERS AND
MUNCHKINS is an online
children’s (0-5 years)
boutique. Monsters and
Munchkins would like to offer
exclusively to Tamba members a 10%
discount on purchases of anything on
their website.
Please quote your Tamba membership
number.
Visit www.monstersandmunchkins.com
New discount partners are always
being added to the Discount Depot
in the members’ area of the website,
so check there for new offers
Tamba – Treasurer’s Position
Tamba – the Twins and Multiple Births Association – is a
registered charity which works throughout the UK. Our aim is to
improve the health and welfare of multiple birth children and their
families. Tamba was formed in 1978 and today we support well
over 7,000 beneficiaries and their families every year.
Tamba’s treasurer is a key voluntary position within the
organisation and involves ensuring that our financial resources
are best used to meet the charity’s agreed objectives. The
treasurer is an officer of the board of trustees, which meets six
times a year. On occasion, officers hold ad hoc telephone
conferences to consider matters arising. The estimated time
commitment between meetings is around four hours per month.
The charity is seeking a qualified accountant to fulfil this
strategically important role. This is an unpaid position but all
out-of-pocket expenses will be met. For more information or
for an informal chat please contact the Chief Executive,
Keith Reed, on 01483 306 773. To apply, please send your CV
to keithreed@tamba.org.uk by Friday 15th May.
TAMBA: JOIN FOR THE SUPPORT . . . STAY FOR THE GREAT BENEFITS
www.tamba.org.uk
MAY 2009 27
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Join for the support…
stay for the great benefits
It’s a wonderful joy and privilege to bring twins, triplets or more
into the world. But it can also be a scary and intimidating time,
especially as very few people, including many professionals,
have the specialist knowledge and experience to offer the support
your family needs. That’s why Tamba is here
And as a member you will receive:
� Quarterly copies of our ever-popular members’ magazine,
Twins, Triplets & More
� Tamba’s Pushchair & Buggy Guide, which includes reviews
of approximately 50 buggies
� Discounts with more than 100 companies, including national stores
such as Clarks, Mothercare and Jo Jo Maman Bebe.
And the list is growing
� Invitations to regular events such as family days and conferences
� Free access to a team of health and education professionals
who specialise in the issues facing multiple birth families
� Access to our freephone helpline staff (all of whom have
experienced multiple births) 365 days of the year
� Free access to a range of factsheets and background information
� Free access to our members-only message board community
– the largest and most secure of its type in the UK
Membership is open to anyone involved with the support and care
of twins, triplets or more. As a member of Tamba, you will be a part of
a supportive and friendly community of families who face special problems
and challenges that other families don’t
TambaMay09
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TAMBA letters
Saving time and money
After many years of sterling service, the
Tamba website has been given a complete overhaul.
At a glance, it looks cosmetic but it
will transform the way members and
staff interact and will ultimately bring
huge benefits as all the information on
our membership database now talks to
the website and vice versa.
Here are just some of the benefits
you can access as a member online:
� Members can download booklets or
watch DVDs on successful parenting
worth around £100 for FREE. Topics
are split into your stage in the parenting journey and the challenges you
may face according to the age of your
children.
� If you haven’t already done so then
please register your details. This will
make it easier and quicker to login to
the website which now takes you to the
members’ area including the message
boards all with a single login and password. There is no need to call the office
as the passwords can be sent out via
email as long as you have registered first.
� Sign up for our e-newsletter Tamba
talk or take part in our online cam-
paigns and research. You can also access
our new buggy guide and Tamba tested
product reviews.
� Save money via our completely
updated members-only discounted section. The sales are on all year with your
Tamba membership and there is more
information on the huge range of
potential savings on pages 20 and 21.
Like many IT projects, it has been
beset by delays and difficulties and the
first few weeks brought a range of
issues to light as it bedded in.
This included a temporary message
board being used while we integrated
the other into the site. The problem
was caused by the software developers
discovering there was a problem only
two days before launch.
Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. You can help improve
the site by reporting any problems you
find to enquiries@tamba.org.uk
We hope you enjoy the many benefits the new website will bring and continue to work with us to make it even
better.
Keith Reed
Chief Executive
TWINS?
Need to talk to
someone, let off steam
or ask advice from
someone who knows
what it is like?
Alone, but very blessed
Reading March’s issue of TT&M was a
welcome relief for me as I came across
the article My Day Today.
Like Sarah Williams I too am a lone
parent of twins. I have only ever met
one other woman who is a lone parent,
but unlike her my ex-partner is not
involved.
I ended my relationship with
Summer and Sienna’s father when I
was four months pregnant as it was
extremely volatile and unhealthy.
I did what I thought was best for
my daughters and I have no regrets in
doing so. Their father has made no real
effort to see them nor has his family.
I feel blessed in having girls. They
have given me a new lease of life and I
feel that I am a better person for having
them. However all too often people
pass comment saying that I must be
mad, or asking how do I cope. Well,
www.tamba.org.uk
coping comes naturally – I have to
cope, what else can I do?
These little girls need their mother.
I am naturally a calm person and everything gets done but it takes a little
longer.
My mum is supportive and does
what she can. I had my first evening
out last month on my birthday and the
girls are now eight months old.
It has always been my intention to
return to work and I will be doing so in
early July for three days – the girls will
be cared for by a childminder.
It is my intention in life to give my
daughters a happy, stable upbringing in
a loving home with lots of laughter.
Being a lone parent does not mean
that my children are lacking in anything – it simply means that they are
truly loved.
Marie Shaw
Freephone
i i
TW
N
L
NE
0800 138 0509
m Time to listen
s
A national, confidential, support,
listening and information service
for all parents and carers of twins,
triplets and more
EVERY DAY
10 am – 1 pm and 7 – 10 pm
KEEP YOUR LETTERS COMING!
If you want to air your views then
please write to: The Editor,
12 Danescourt Road, Tettenhall,
Wolverhampton WV6 9BG.
email: jelwilliams@btinternet.com
MAY 2009 29
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24 HOURS IN THE LIFE OF A BUSY PARENT
W
e have baby
7am and the girls play
twins, Mia and
until 9.30am when they
Alannah, who are
have a nap, giving either
just learning to walk and
of us a chance to clean
talk – imagine dealing
up and do some online
with that as well as trying
For teacher Becky Polhill, from Chichester, grocery shopping and
to keep the house clean.
washing.
West Sussex, her husband Ben is not just a
It has been crazy for
We sometimes go out
dad to twin girls – he was recently named as a
both of us learning how
mid morning or in the
cleaning hero in a national competition netting afternoon to get a breath
to be parents, especially as
the family a fantastic £1,500 prize holiday
the girls were born preof fresh air and then it is
mature, but Ben’s been
soon 5pm which means
an absolute dream with
teatime followed by
helping out.
naked kickaround time in
When we first found
the bedroom (the twins,
out we were having twins
not us).
we just laughed. It took us
Very early on we got
a while to get our heads
the girls into a bedtime
around it but we were so
routine and it doesn’t
excited to be expecting in
really change from night
the first place that having
to night so by 6pm they
twins was a bonus.
are bathed, given a bottle
When the girls were
of formula milk and off
first delivered, Ben took
to bed.
over the housework as I needed a lot of recovery time.
As for actually having the girls, we consider ourselves
With his help, I was soon feeling better and we were
very lucky. Despite the fact they were born prematurely at
thrilled to finally welcome the girls home six weeks after
30 weeks they have had few problems with their health or
the birth.
development.
Even now, Ben, who works as a sport and physical
Their first birthday was March 6 and they are meeting
activity development officer, still happily does the cleanall their milestones. It has been hard work at times: I
ing so I can get a few minutes of quality time to myself.
breastfed for the first nine months with a few formula
Having twins has completely changed our lives, as you’d
top-ups when I just couldn’t face it.
expect – not long ago, all we had to look after were
However, we have a really supportive family who are
houseplants and a dog; now, we have two beautiful kids.
always on hand if we need a night off, not to mention a
We manage our busy schedule by working as a team
lovely group of friends with new babies who gave me the
and dividing the chores between us – I’m a bathroomwill to get out of the house and share our new mummy
cleaning queen, while Ben makes sure the kitchen is
moans and triumphs together.
sparkling.
Ben is using his annual leave to stay home one day a
The girls are generally awake by 6am. It’s not so bad
week with the babies and we are lucky girls to have him
these days, as they tend to go through the night (we are
in our lives.
very lucky). When either of us is working we tend to wash
And now we are looking forward to our prize holiday
and dress the girls before breakfast, so that we can leave
thanks to the competition run by the makers of Mr
after they are fed, fully clothed and ready to face the day.
Muscle who scoured the country for a real-life cleaning
If we are at home then the routine is breakfast by
hero which turned out to be Ben!
My day
today
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Make the most of Tamba
membership – download or
access the following for
free at www.tamba.org.uk
Expecting & The First Year
� Multiple Birth Factsheet
� Expecting More than One Booklet
� Pregnancy & Birth Forum
� Sleep and Multiple Birth Babies
Factsheet
� The First Year Booklet
� Supporting Breastfeeding Factsheet
� Play with Multiple Babies and
Toddlers Factsheet
� Being a Father of Multiples Factsheet
� Dealing with Differences in
Multiple Children Factsheet
� Development in Multiples Factsheet
� Enhancing Individuality Factsheet
� Family Relationships in Families
with Multiples Factsheet
� Multiples and Money Matters
Factsheet
� Babies, Toddlers and Pre-school
Forum
Pre-school (2, 3 & 4 years)
� Parenting Triplets or More – the
Toddler Years Factsheet
� Years 2, 3 & 4 Booklet
� Play with Multiple Babies and
Toddlers Factsheet
� Play Booklet
� Potty Training with Multiple
Success Factsheet
� Travelling with Multiples Factsheet
� Weaning Factsheet
� Being a Father of Multiples Factsheet
� ‘Good Enough’ Parenting with
Multiples in Mind Factsheet
� Managing Behaviour in Multiples
Factsheet
� Flying with Multiples Factsheet
� Multiples and Money Matters
Factsheet
� Babies, Toddlers and Pre-school
Forum
School Years
� The Primary School Years Booklet
� Read Tamba Education Study
Day Presentations
� Starting School Questionnaire
and Factsheet
� School Age and Older Multiples
Matters Forum
HOW TO CONTACT US
TAMBA OFFICE
2 The Willows, Gardner Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4PG
Tel: 01483 304442 Fax: 01483 302483
email: enquiries@tamba.org.uk www.tamba.org.uk
Office hours – Mon-Fri 9.30am – 4.00pm
TWINLINE TELEPHONE HELPLINE
0800 138 0509 (10am-1pm and 7pm-10pm seven days a week)
WHO’S WHO IN TAMBA?
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Chair Samantha Jeffrey
Vice-Chair Hansa Raja-Jones
Hon Treasurer Jonathan Miles
Hon Secretary Alex Cornwall
Camille de Stempel, Claudia Mortimore, Vicky Phelan, Dr Nicki Hutchinson,
Fiona Hall, Tamora Langley and Sarah Roberts
Tamba President Judi Linney
TAMBA STAFF
Chief Executive Keith Reed
email: keithreed@tamba.org.uk
PA to the Chief Executive Rachel Gardiner-Hill
Membership Manager Deborah Ross
Financial Administrator Nicola Deans
Events & Sponsorship Co-ordinator Sarah Newell
Trusts & Statutory Fundraiser Nikki Harris
Twinline & Support Services Co-ordinator Carol Clay
Membership Assistant Kate Valentine
Tamba in Northern Ireland Marilyn York and Rachel Wiffen
Tamba in Scotland Helen Peck
TAMBA SUPPORT GROUP CO-ORDINATORS
Bereavement Carol Clay
Infertility Caroline Rice
One Parent Families Paula Chambers
Special Needs Karoline Jordan
Supertwins Sue Plenty
Magazine Editor Jane Williams
Parent Professional Liaison Gillian Smith
TAMBA HONORARY CONSULTANTS
Consultant Obstetricians Michael Dooley (MFFP MMS FRCOG) Specialist in low fertility
Damian Eustace (MD MRCOG) Specialist in pregnancy loss/higher multiples
Consultant Paediatrician Dr Rasieka Jayatunga (MBBS LRCP MRCS DCH MRCP FRCPCH)
Health and Social Care Judi Linney (MSc SRN SCM HV HEdDIP)
Family Therapy Audrey Sandbank (Family psychotherapist, UKCP Regd)
Education Research Pat Preedy (Ph.D, BEd, Hons. MEd)
Midwifery Sandra Bosman (specialist multiple births midwife)
Primary Education Anne Thomas (BEd, Hons)
Secondary Education Diane Galloway (BA PGCE)
Speech and Language Therapy Janet O’Keefe (BSc Hons Reg MRCSLT MASLTIP),
Michelle Field (BSc MRCSLT)
Nextissue
Finance – we count the cost of bringing
up multiples
Strep B – avoid the dangers of infection
in pregnancy
Days out – where to have fun in the sun
this summer
Advertising: call or e-mail for more details. For Sale; wording (30p/word members, 75p/word non-members)
and cheque payable to ‘Tamba’ by post. Birth Announcements by e-mail or post.
Sarah Newell, Tamba Advertising, 2 The Willows, Gardner Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4PG
advertising@tamba.org.uk 01483 304442.
www.tamba.org.uk
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