Multiple pregnancy is NEVER planned. A few years ago one could categorically make such a statement. Perhaps nowadays one cannot be so sure. Although parents are still unlikely to be able to plan such an event, it does seem that current infertility treatments may allow or even encourage practitioners to use methods which predispose to a multiple pregnancy. The practice of returning several fertilised embryos to the uterus in the hope of achieving a successful result has meant that many parents who longed for a baby have had to adjust to the realisation of a multiple pregnancy with all the effects such an occurrence has on family physical, social and emotional resources.

The Study of Triplets and Higher Order Births by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys [1] highlighted the striking increase in Multiple Births in recent years. This was particularly evident in the case of triplets and higher order births. (Fig. 1) Care of these high-risk infants is costly in resources and no increased funding has been given to the National Health Service or Social Services budgets to provide care and support for the families.

This study endeavours to ascertain the needs of such families preconceptually, antenatally, intra-partum, postnatally and in the early months following the birth. It also tries to assess how appropriate current practice is in meeting these needs.