 Welcome to MOST (Mothers of Supertwins)!
MOST is an international support network of families who are parents or expectant parents of triplets, quadruplets or more. The word supertwins
is a medical term commonly used in the 1970-80s to describe
pregnancies of more than twins. MOST was founded in 1987 by a group
of families with triplets on Long Island, NY. Over the next 10 years
this grassroots organization touched over 15,000 families throughout
the world. MOST's main goals have always been mutual support,
education, and networking.
In a high-risk pregnancy such as a higher-order multiple gestation
or parenting the not so typical family, being in touch with families who have been down
the same road makes all of the
difference. MOST believes each parent is entitled to and obligated
to become a healthcare advocate for his or her children starting
at time of conception. In order to do this, parents must be educated
health care consumers. Through education, MOST strives to empower families
with the information they need to make informed decisions regarding
pregnancy, child development, and education.
I am the mother of
two singletons and triplets who were born in 1987. My singleton
pregnancies, one before and one after the triplets, were not considered
high risk pregnancies, and during both I delivered around my due date.
My triplet pregnancy was at the other end of the spectrum. This high risk pregnancy included medications and technologies
to help prolong my pregnancy, anti-partum hospitalization and a
premature delivery. My husband, Jack, and I are so very fortunate
to have healthy and active children, but we are also very familiar
with the challenges families like ours face getting to this point. Families who are expecting triplets should know
that pro-active prenatal care during pregnancy signifcantly increases the chances of having three very healthy babies.
Also, many parents of multiples find that life with multiples is a little
different from the lives of their family, friends, and neighbors. You will never know such love as
that times three, four, five or more. You will understand both a parent's
joy and despair, pleasure and pain, frustration and simplicity: much more intensified than you can imagine. Your heart will expand
in ways you never dreamed possible. The little pleasures in life will
hold new meaning for you. For example, the phrase "time for bed." will mean something totally different to you compared to typical families who can only vaguely appreciate the significance: bedrest during pregnancy, blurred but poignant memories of those sleepless newborn
weeks, simple goals for getting some rest at the end of the day during infancy, bedtime battles
during toddlerhood, squeezing in one last commercial before lights
out in the elementary school years, and then telling your children you are the one going to bed when they hit high school. Some of these experiences hold such a different meaning once you have 3,4,5
or more children the same age helping you redefine life.
We invite you to
meet the many wonderful families here at MOST, who just like your own, are managing the trials and blessing of raising higher-order multiples. Through the MOST
website and the pages of SUPERTWINS magazine, we share our stories and support one another, so welcome to our home for
higher-order multiple (HOM) families! If at any time
we can help you or your family, please do not hesitate
to let us know. MOST has a vast array of resources and information on every stage of parenting HOMs ready waiting.
Maureen A. Doolan
Boyle
Executive Director
Email MOST's Executive Director
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