Despite having two or three new members of the family, multiple birth parents often feel alone, and that others don’t quite know what they are going through.

Ali Mountifield, a mother of seven-year-old triplets who divides her time between Canberra and Sunshine Bay, used the occasion of Multiple Births Awareness Week to encourage such parents in the Eurobodalla to reach out.

“This is about team work and letting people know that there are people who can help them,” she said.

“It is about asking ‘are you okay?’ rather than ‘was it natural?, ie not IVF.”

“The theme for 2015 is T.E.A.M. – Together Everyone Achieves More.

“Everyone from the immediate and extended family, friends, friends of friends or even the kind person you meet in a shop who asks if you are OK is part of the team.

“Some families don't have access to a team, which can be quite upsetting or daunting when faced with a multiple birth, and that’s where Australian Mutliple Births Asoociation can help.

“Building a team and learning to say yes to help while pregnant with my triplets made a world of difference to our family.”

She said that multiple-birth parents face issues that single-birth parents do not.  

“The risks involved in multiple birth are a lot higher that went single-birth, and with twins and triplets, the mother is nearly twice as likely to suffer from post natal depression,” she said.

“Dads are at risk, too, and as well as our website and Facebook group we have an online community for Dads.”

Ms Mountifield is urging multiple birth parents in the Euorbodalla to join the Australian Multiple Births Association to access support networks, services and member discounts and get together with other such parents.

To find out more go to http://www.amba.org.au/.