The needs of multiple birth families during the first 1001 critical days: A rapid review with a systematic literature search and narrative synthesis

Burlingham, Martha and Maguire, Laura and Hibberd, Lorna and Turville, Nathalie and Cowdell, Fiona and Bailey, Elizabeth (2023) The needs of multiple birth families during the first 1001 critical days: A rapid review with a systematic literature search and narrative synthesis. Public Health Nursing. ISSN 0737-1209

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Abstract

Objective
Supporting families during the first 1001 days from conception to the age of two is vital for setting the emotional, cognitive, and physical building blocks for children's futures. Families with twins, triplets, or higher order multiples (multiple birth families) have unique challenges due to caring for more than one baby at the same time. Therefore, identifying the needs of multiple birth families is necessary to provide optimum support during the first 1001 critical days.

Design
A rapid review was undertaken to synthesize knowledge of the needs of multiple birth families in the United Kingdom (UK) during the first 1001 critical days. Findings from five databases (MEDLINE, APA PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed studies and grey literature published between 2012 and 2022 were synthesized. Fifteen studies were reviewed using narrative synthesis.

Results
Multiple birth families have unique and complex emotional and practical needs across the first 1001 critical days, and in particular, the first-year post birth, impacted further by complicated pregnancies and prematurity. Needs were identified within the four key themes: high risk pregnancy and birth; transformed reality of raising multiples; inadequate support; and positively affecting experiences. Health professional support was inconsistent and particularly lacking in intrapartum, postnatal, and community care including transition.

Conclusion
Multiple birth families’ needs should be considered in the design and delivery of care within the first 1001 critical days, especially within the first year after birth. Multiples specific advice across the first 1001 critical days is needed and training for health professionals to adapt universal advice for this population is one way to achieve this. Further research is needed to ensure this advice is evidence based and effective.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1111/phn.13259
Dates:	Date Event 17 October 2023 Accepted 2 November 2023 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	early intervention, families, multiple births, parents, public health nursing, multiple pregnancy, twins
Subjects:	CAH02 - subjects allied to medicine > CAH02-04 - nursing and midwifery > CAH02-04-04 - midwifery
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Nursing and Midwifery
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	06 Nov 2023 12:25
Last Modified:	06 Nov 2023 12:25
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14917

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