Multiple+Birth

 “Multiple”, as defined by Webster-Dictionary.org, means “containing more than one, or more than once; manifold; repeated many times”. “Birth” is “the act or fact of coming into life, or of being born”. Multiple Births can then be defined in two distinctly different ways. It can be the accumulation of individual pregnancies by a sole woman. It can also be defined as a single pregnancy yielding more than one embryo, fetus, or child. While both instances involve increased risk over time, the birth of more than one child at a single time has a more profound and immediate impact on the woman and those surrounding her. The rest of this article will examine the way in which multiple births affect sexual communication between women and physicians; parents; and women and their children. ** Women and Their Physicians ** The most common case of multiple births is the phenomenon of twins. Twin births occur approximately once in every one hundred births (Forbes, 17). Other scholars have estimated this number to be significantly higher. In most instances a multiple birth is considered a high risk pregnancy and requires more patient-physician communication (Lawrence, 201). Twins, in general, “are born earlier and smaller than singletons, and suffer higher fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity” (Forbes, 12). This information must be communicated to parents, and physicians often offer women having multiple children a greater array of testing options, including fetal reduction (Kitzinger, 78). In this regard, these women have a greater knowledge of their pregnancies, their options, and their bodies. Doctors are also more likely to communicate about long term contraception, including tubal ligation (Puri, 213). However, men may be left out of these vital consultations. It is important to respect their position, and include them whenever possible. ** Women and their Partners **  Children can alter the balance of any relationship. Thus, it is increasingly important to discuss the responsibilities of each parent beforehand. These responsibilities include who will care for the new arrivals and how; who carries the responsibility of contraception in the future/contemplating whether to have more children; as well as the financial responsibility. This can be referred to as the “principle of allocation” (Forbes, 12). Under this theory, the solutions for each couple are different because of different restrictions placed on time, resources, and financing (Forbes, 12). Negotiating these key factors surrounding children is difficult, but important.  In addition, women who give birth to multiples are at a higher risk for postpartum depression (Kitzinger, 113). These women “are often told that depression suffered after childbirth is the result of major hormonal changes. [Subsequently] men are absolved from the responsibility or opportunity to change…” (Kitzinger, 113). Men are typically left out of the discussion surrounding postpartum depression, and the other emotions that women experience after the arrival of their children. This should not be the case, however. Men should be included because their response to their partner’s emotions can positively or negatively affect their relationship long term. Men and women both should seek counseling to counteract depression, especially when prescribed medications do not work (Kitzinger, 114). ** Women and their Children **  There is a great deal of information regarding sibling order and placement. Despite this, “the great majority of infants and children are born healthy and develop normally” independent of their sibling status (Shore, 29). However, more research is being conducted with parental choices. In an age when diversity is valued, parents want their children to be different and can oftentimes foster sibling rivalry (Shore, 21). This is especially evident in multiple births. In some case, parents will recognize the “better” sibling, based on survival chances, intellect, or physical capabilities, and nurture him/her more than the other sibling. In other cases, parents will choose the “lesser” child and nurture him/her more in order to eradicate the difference between siblings. However, in both cases, unequal treatment negatively affects the relationship between the children (Shore, 23). Parents should receive guidance from social workers skilled in family communication in order to fully nurture each of their children.  Also, parents should acknowledge their independent parenting styles and create a unified style that they are both comfortable with long term. In a study conducted by The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, it was found that parenting styles differ by race/ethnicity, age, economic, and social standing (Gordon, 63). For example, the study found that 87% of white parents in the study were married, whilst only 60% of blacks were married. This difference can affect income and available resources directly, and childrearing indirectly. ** Relevant Examples **  As mentioned previously in this article, parents are typically restricted by the principle of allocation. There are several noteworthy couples who have garnered attention because of their unique multiple births that debunk this theory. The first of which is Kate and Thomas Grosselin, parents of a set of fraternal twins and a set of sextuplets. They starred in their own highly viewed television show “Tom and Kate Plus Eight”, detailing the daily struggle of raising multiple children. Another noteworthy couple is Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. They’re the parents of a total of nineteen children, including two sets of twins. They also star in their own television                show called “Nineteen and Counting”, wherein they discussion religion, contraception (or lack thereof), and future children. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The last noteworthy individual is Nadya Suleman, coined “Octomom” by the media. She delivered octuplets in January 2009, now the longest surviving Octuplets ever. She also has six other children. She started a media firestorm regarding in vitro fertilization and how many children a woman should be permitted to have. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In each of the aforementioned instances, parents have broken the social norms regarding reproduction, and have received both criticism and praise. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Conclusion ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In conclusion, multiple births have both risks and benefits. Like single births, they impact all areas of a woman’s life, especially her health and her personal relationships. It is of the utmost importance for a woman pregnant with multiples to have an open line of communication with her physician to fully understand how her sexual health will change. Likewise, it is important that her partner is involved in such discussions and is helpful and considerate. After birth, parents must effectively communicate to ensure the best outcome for the children. At every stage, sexual communication is necessary and beneficial. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> ** __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">References __ ** <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Forbes, Scott. ** __A Natural History of Families__ **. Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford: 2005. <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Gordon, Myron, M.D. ** __The Women and Their Pregnancies__ **. US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, New York: 1972. <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Kitzinger, Sheila. ** __Birth Over Thirty__ **. Sheldon Press, London: 1982. <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">4. Puri, Chander. ** __Sexual and Reproductive Health__ **. New Age International Limited, New Delhi: 2001. <span style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5. Shore, Eleanor. // “Prenatal Influences on Child Health and Development”. // From ** __The New Woman Patient: Medical and Psychological Interfaces__ **, Plenum Press, New York and London, 1978. <span style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6. [|www.Websters-Dictionary.org] (Search: Multiple, Birth)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Definition of Multiple Birth **