Multiple Births

Services for multiple birth families are provided by the Multiple Birth Coordinator. These include:

• Multiple birth antenatal education and breastfeeding multiples classes
• Breast pump hire information and breastfeeding support
• Information about other equipment hire or purchase
• Antenatal and postnatal literature, websites, information and Library books
• Information about community support services and Link with Multiple Birth SA Inc.

Having a multiple birth can be a joyful and exciting time. It can also be a time of mixed emotions and expectations. Excitement one day and fear the next are common feelings.

Both the parents and children in a multiple birth family have unique and special needs. Parenting twins or more is different than parenting a single child, and family dynamics change dramatically. Parents can face new physical, emotional and financial challenges with the arrival of their "instant" or suddenly increased family.

The Multiple Birth Coordinator provides support and information to these families throughout the antenatal and postnatal periods.

Hours

The Multiple Birth Coordinator is available Tuesday–Thursday, 9am – 3pm

Please leave a message on the answering machine or email at all other times.

Location

4th Floor, Queen Victoria Building

See under "Antenatal Education" below on how to register for sessions.

COVID-19 or Coronavirus has been declared a global pandemic, and the Women's and Children's Health Network is doing everything in its power to ensure the safety of our staff and consumers.

Consistent with current government and health recommendations, we are conducting education sessions online. The Multiple Birth sessions are held over 3 weeks for 2 hours on the first three Wednesdays of each month, from 7 – 9pm.

It is advised to consider starting a series around 25 – 30 weeks' gestation.

• Week 1:
  Pregnancy and Birth
• Week 2:
  First hours and first few days, Going Home, Survival, Sleep, Settling and Postnatal Support
• Week 3:
  Breastfeeding Multiples

Registration

To register and secure a spot, please make an online booking through GoBookings:

Alternatively. you can forward your details and include the below, to: Health.WCHNMultipleBirths@sa.gov.au

• Name, Date of Birth
• WCH Hospital UR Number (if available)
• Partner's/Support person's name
• Estimated due date
• Mobile Number

Please allow up to 5 days for a response from the educator.

Further resources and information are available via the Having your baby at the WCH booklet.

The WCH has an ongoing commitment to research and evidence based practice. Many research activities are conducted with support from the Multiple Birth Coordinator.

Multiple Birth Coordinator – Deborah Rossi RN, RM, BSc RN, Lactation Specialist

Deborah has worked in Health in both the public and private sectors in South Australia, was the secretary of the SA branch (now closed) of Childbirth and Parenting Educators for many years, is a member of Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand, and Multiple Birth SA Inc. this has enabled developing links throughout SA and beyond.

Deborah has a passion for providing research based education and support to multiple birth families’ in particular information regarding realistic pregnancy, birth and post birth pathways.

Phone

(08) 8161 7520

Email

Health.WCHNMultipleBirths@sa.gov.au

Mailing Address

Multiple Birth Coordinator
Women's and Children's Hospital
4th Floor, Queen Victoria Building
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006