Reducing Mental Illness for Parents of Multiples Starting in the Community

With her partnership with the Women's Health Center, of Grants Pass, Oregon, Tressi Albee has worked to establish support groups and mental health services for mothers, paid for through AllCare Health. (Summer Mincks)

In a recent article published on this blog, it was showcased that parents of multiples suffer higher rates of mental illnesses such a postpartum depression, anxiety, and severe stress-related disorders than parents of singleton children. These high rates could potentially be related to a number of factors that range from everything from the physiological changes that occur to the feelings of isolation and obscurity that tend to arise after giving birth to multiples.

Tressi Albee, a therapist, and midwife, in Grants Pass, Oregon, says that these factors, even the physiological ones, can be lessened or improved upon by simply working to establish community-based support.

“The best thing I would suggest is to establish (mental health) care during pregnancy,” she states, suggesting that this allows a health care provider to follow a patients baseline so that way each patient can be evaluated based on comparing their postnatal mental health to their prenatal health.

“Having a relationship with a therapist prior to birth can really aid in assisting the mother mentally and emotionally after birth.”

She also suggests that having a support group, preferably with relatable mothers, can also be a huge step in assisting mothers, in particular mothers of multiples. Having other women to communicate with helps mothers feel honored and comforted during a usually rocky time due to things like hormonal drop-offs and sleep deprivation.

So, what can the community do to aid in this process as well?

Overall mothers of multiples can often feel isolated or lonely as they grapple with not only motherhood but also mothering two or more infants at a time. So, the bigger question is what a community can do to make small steps with a lasting impact.

Here are three simple suggestions that could work towards lowering the high rates of mental illness in parents of multiples, starting with the community.

1. Support groups are crucial.

Having a place for mothers of multiples to turn to really aids in lowering the dramatic rates of mental illness. Much like Tressi Albee mentioned above, women need support and socialization. Having affordable, or better yet - free, groups that mothers of multiples can feel welcomed into with open arms can help them see that they are not alone in their struggles and more importantly give them a safe place to express their concerns or triumphs.

2. Remove negative narrative.

Mothers of multiples often struggle a great deal with the negative narrative on a community-based level. Comments like “double trouble” or “you have your hands full” further push a mother of multiples to feel more isolated, and worse, abandoned, by her community. When seeing a mother or father of multiples in public, remember that even a comment that may feel like a light-hearted joke could be painful or triggering. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all. And instead of staring or asking invasive questions, saying something like “You are doing great!” or “You have a beautiful family!” can go an incredibly long way in benefiting the mental health of a parent of multiples.

3. Discuss the risks prior to birth.

Though this is a bit more up to medical providers, it isn’t any less important. Discussing the risks for mental health concerns prior to birth helps parents become much more prepared for things that could occur. Allowing for open and honest communication also lets parents of multiples understand and be aware of the signs and symptoms. It can assist in making a mother of multiples feel as though she is struggling with something that can be helped or treated instead of just feeling “crazy.”

These are just very simple suggestions that could easily assist in reducing the rates of mental illness starting on a community-based level. The first step is realizing that there is a huge problem for parents of multiples in terms of mental health. Next opening up the door to communication comes in to play and helps the community to let parents of multiples know they are never alone, and more importantly, have a safe and healthy way to release their feelings and concerns.

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