What is the NZ Multiple Birth Association?
The New Zealand Multiple Birth Association is a not-for-profit organisation which supports families with ‘multiples’, be they twins, triplets, quads or more! The association acts as an overarching support for individual multiple birth clubs and support groups throughout the country.
What does the NZ Multiple Birth Association do?
The New Zealand Multiple Birth Association can put you in touch with a Multiple Birth Support Group in your area, or help you start one if there is none already established. They provide useful information and resources for parents of multiples, and help link families to relevant organisations and professionals within the community.
Your local Multiple Birth Club can help you access community support, and provide you with a support network of parents who “know what you’re going through”. Exactly what services each support group offers will vary from area to area, but essentially they are a group of parents who are all in the same boat, and can understand the challenges, frustrations and joys of raising twins, triplets or more!
There are often activities like coffee mornings, group outings, and guest speakers. Some groups may organise workshops about the specific challenges faced by parents of multiples, and as your children grow, they have the opportunity of developing their own networks with other multiples.
How is it funded?
The New Zealand Multiple Birth Association is a not-for-profit organisation which relies on members levies, donations and sponsorship to operate. Individual Multiple Birth Clubs are also not-for-profit and survive largely through the fundraising efforts of members.
How can I get their help?
Your midwife or maternity hospital should be able to provide you with details of the Multiple Birth Group in your area, and a list of groups is also available on the Multiple Birth Association website. If there isn’t a group in your area, the New Zealand Multiple Birth Association can help you set one up. You can contact them through their website
www.multiples.org.nz or phone 0800 4 TWINS.
How much does it cost?
Each Multiple Birth Club will have their own subscription or levy to join, and they may charge a small amount for each activity to cover basic costs. Every club has been established by parents of multiples, so rest assured they are there to support you, and any costs will be minimal.
Link to the NZ Multiple Birth Association Website
www.multiples.org.nz
This website has a list of contacts for local Multiple Birth Groups, links to useful websites, and various news articles related to multiple births. It has a great resources page with reviews of books and details of where you can purchase them from, as well as a list of books and videos available from the association.