New families given extra support during Covid-19 pandemic
22 May 2020
New mums of twins, triplets and more face caring for their babies first alone as partners and close family no longer able to visit due to Covid-19.
Having more than one baby to care for in normal circumstances is difficult, but in these uncertain times it is causing huge anxiety when the usual support networks are not around due to lockdown restrictions.
Twins Trust has adapted its Family Crisis Support service, which it set up in partnership with Norland, to help parents who might be feeling overwhelmed and isolated. The same support remains for families facing a crisis, but the charity offers support to new mums who had their babies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The charity has recruited more volunteers from the prestigious Norland Agency to help parents of newborn twins or triplets who may not get the usual level of NHS support and are feeling isolated as grandparents, friends and other members of the family are unable to visit.
Norland nannies join the charity’s own qualified support practitioner to provide remote help with feeding, bathing, bonding and crying.
Helen Regan, from Twins Trust, said: “We offer support over the phone or in a video call to new mums in hospital and new parents who are isolated at home, along with our usual support to families who are facing extreme circumstances.
“If we can support parents and get them over whatever hurdles they may have, we hope this will help combat any feelings of depression and talking to someone in this way will help them cope.”
Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland, said: “We are delighted to continue supporting the Family Crisis Support service during these difficult times. Having worked with the Twins Trust to set up the award-winning service in 2014, our nannies have volunteered over 3,000 hours of specialist support to families in severe need.
“We are so proud of our nannies who continue to volunteer their time to this vital service and, in so doing, are making a real difference to the lives of children and families living in unbelievably challenging circumstances across the UK.”
Like many other charities, Twins Trust is facing a drop in income due to the pandemic. Online classes bring in less income, and fundraising activities are either postponed or cancelled. To find out more about Twins Trust, or to make a donation, please visit www.twinstrust.org
“Patsi was brilliant. So experienced and talked me through a proper routine to introduce to the twins,” said Tanya, “so now we feed them before we go to bed at 11pm – once in the night and again at 7am. I now feel that I am actually getting some sleep, which is amazing and I feel so much better.
“They both adapted really well and it’s just so nice to speak to someone who understands. Helen has also been great with following up with me, and as she has a twin boy and a girl it was so lovely to have that connection as I didn’t know anyone who has twins. It is a great service and I never felt rushed or made to feel that I was doing anything wrong. It was reassuring and I felt I could ask anything.”
Tanya was also full of praise for Twins Trusts’ Practical Parenting course which took place in February (now all the charity’s courses are online).
“I am so glad I went on that and the lady who ran it set up a What’s App group for everyone and now we all stay in touch. I was the first mum to have twins from the course so now I feel I may be able to help some of the others if they have questions. I can’t wait until we can see each other again and meet each other’s babies!”
