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A University of Dundee-led study will explore how to improve breastfeeding support for parents of twins, triplets and other multiple-birth babies.
The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will examine the experiences of families across the UK who choose to breastfeed more than one baby.
The TANDM study, Twin and Multiples Feeding Breastfeeding Support, aims to identify the specific challenges faced by parents of multiples and develop recommendations for healthcare providers.
Breastfeeding rates are lower among babies born as multiples than among single babies, while parents can face additional practical difficulties, particularly when babies are born prematurely or need specialist neonatal care.
Researchers will work with parents through workshops to draw on their experiences and help shape recommendations for more tailored support.
The study is being carried out in partnership with the Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Birth Centre at Birmingham City University, Twins Trust, the Breastfeeding Network and NHS Tayside.
The NIHR funds research intended to improve health and social care in the UK and internationally. Its work includes supporting research, developing the health and care research workforce and helping translate findings into improvements in treatment and services.
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Dr Anna Gavine, an expert in maternal and infant health at the University of Dundee, said: “Rates of breastfeeding among multiple birth infants are lower than those of single babies, often causing distress to parents who had initially intended to breastfeed their young during pregnancy.
“While breastfeeding offers significant health benefits for both mothers and babies, parents of twins and higher-order multiples often face additional challenges.
“Multiple babies are more likely to be born prematurely, and many require specialist neonatal care, making breastfeeding more difficult.
“There are also the practical, physical challenges of having to breastfeed more than one or two babies, which can be daunting to a new mother.
“Parents of multiple children are often overlooked in research, so by working with this group and utilising their first-hand experiences, we can create tailored advice to make the lives of future parents in similar circumstances as easy and stress-free as possible.”
Professor Alastair Denniston, director of the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme, said: “This study will provide crucial information from parents with lived experience of breastfeeding after multiple infant births, helping to identify the challenges they face and how best to support them.
“The NIHR celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and over the past two decades, we're proud to have funded a wide range of women's health-related studies like this which have made a real difference in improving women's healthcare, while also helping in our aim to build a fairer health system.”