Healesville Sanctuary family celebration for Multiple Birth Awareness Week
If you are a parent of twins, triplets, quads or maybe a few more this is celebration at Healesville Sanctuary is one you won’t want to miss. Find out why.
Outer East
Don't miss out on the headlines from Outer East. Followed categories will be added to My News.
When it comes to multiple births, there is strength in numbers and why a family support group believes it’s better together.
And that is the theme for the this year’s Multiple Birth Awareness Week, which runs from March 15 to 22.
Australian Multiple Birth Association Victorian branch president Fiona Lally is mother to six-year-old Zara, and four-year-old triplets Zac, Isabelle and Ashton.
The Mooroolbark mum said it took a whole village to raise multiples and Victorian families with twins, triplets, quads joined with a club in their area were eligible to join celebrations at Healesville Sanctuary.
“This year our theme is Better Together,” Ms Lally said.
“It’s a celebration because of how special multiples are but also because of the challenges as well.”
She said while having multiples brings so much joy to families, it also comes with personal and financial strains.
“One in two marriages in Australia (between parents of multiples) won’t last,” Ms Lally said.
She said there was also the financial burden, dealing with depression, premature babies, sick babies and children with ongoing health issues.
“One of mine has cerebral palsy,” she said.
“The other had a stroke as a baby.”
Ms Lally said doctors told her and her husband of the risk triplets faced of developing issues including cerebral palsy.
MORE: MAN ATTACKS BOUNCER AFTER ENTRY REFUSAL
FORMER TIGER CHAMP PROMOTES HIS OTHER PASSION
MOGGIES STILL RUNNING RIOT IN KNOX
“These are health issues that shouldn’t happen if the babies aren’t multiples,” she said.
“There is an increased risk of cerebral palsy because of the amount of oxygen getting to each baby.”
She advised anyone interested in joining in the celebration on Sunday, March 15 or being part of the support group to visit the website.