International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Many parents of twins and multiple births are not being given access to essential birth information which would improve their chances of a healthy pregnancy, it has been claimed.

According to the UK-based Twins and Multiple Births Association (Tamba), only 36 per cent of 1,300 women surveyed in a recent study were offered multiple-specific parent education sessions while they were pregnant.

Jane Denton, director of the Multiple Births Foundation, said additional midwifery support is needed for parents of twins and multiple births.

She commented that expectant mothers need to understand why the management of the pregnancy is different and why they need to have more regular scans.

"One of the key [differences is] between twins who share one placenta called monochorionic twins - who have a greater risk of other complications - and twins who each have a placenta," she added.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the provisional Total Fertility Rate for 2008 stands at an average of 1.95 children per woman in England and Wales.

This is an increase from 1.92 in 2007 and is the seventh consecutive annual increase from a low point in 2001 when the rate was 1.63.