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No matter how you look at it, parenting is stressful.
Beyond keeping one or more tiny humans alive, the extreme sleep deprivation and financial strain of keeping multiple mouths fed and the associated butts clean and dry don't make anything easier.
Add to that the potential trauma that can come with a multiple-birth delivery and the relationship strain that comes over time with never truly getting a break from child-rearing, and that stress level can rise substantially.
In fact, compared to parents of single babies, parents of twins, triplets, and higher-order multiples have a significantly higher risk of developing postpartum mental health issues, including postpartum depression, anxiety, and extreme parenting stress.
For mothers of twins, the risk of postpartum depression spikes sharply around two months postpartum, according to a study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, with a 24 percent to 28 percent increased risk during the first six months.
Fathers and partners also experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and parenting stress compared to those who have singletons, with the risk of postpartum depression peaking around six months postpartum.
At nine months postpartum, a study published by researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that mothers of multiples have 43 percent greater odds of experiencing moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
For parents of multiples, studies show these risks lower and fall back into line with singleton parents after the one-year mark.
This means that extra support is very much needed for parents of multiples during the first 12 months after their babies are delivered.
This is why a recent partnership announcement from Owlet, Inc. and VillageFor is welcome news for new and expecting parents who could be struggling with their postpartum mental wellness.
New partnership expands access to mental health support
Owlet, Inc., the pioneer of smart infant monitoring, just announced a new partnership with VillageFor, a mental health platform for every path to parenthood and beyond, expanding access to mental health support for new and expecting parents.
Founded by two mothers who experienced infertility, NICU stays, and postpartum mental health conditions, VillageFor was built around a simple idea: a mom should not have to be in crisis before she has somewhere to turn.
This partnership comes at a time when there is a gap in mental health support for mothers.
This partnership comes at a time when there is a gap in mental health support for mothers.
When it comes to parents of single babies, as many as one in five women experience perinatal depression, and a review of relevant studies shows that postpartum depression is associated with a range of maternal and infant outcomes, including infant health, sleep and development, as well as breastfeeding and bonding.
Further, mothers (of singletons) with poor sleep quality have been found to have more than three times the odds of experiencing postpartum depression symptoms compared with those with good sleep quality.
"Our promise has always been to give parents more peace of mind while helping keep their baby safe at home," says Liz Teran, Owlet's chief parent officer.
"Owlet gives parents access to technology that can enable them to have more confidence. Partnering with VillageFor gives us a powerful new way to deliver on that, pairing the trust families already place in Owlet with the dedicated mental health expertise VillageFor has spent years building," Teran adds. "We're proud to bring this partnership to life and support parents across every facet of their parenting journey."
Owlet and VillageFor kicked off their partnership last week, with an event held just ahead of World Mental Health Day (and during the same month that promotes SIDS Awareness and Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness).
The event brought together industry leaders to explore the roles they play in supporting maternal mental health, including recognizing when support is needed, navigating moments when they don't know what to say or do, and considering how the people, products, and systems around mothers can better show up, from trying to conceive through pregnancy, postpartum, loss, and beyond.
Owlet helps parents stay informed about their baby's well-being through connected monitoring technology with its FDA-cleared Dream Sock and Dream Sight Monitor and Owlet subscription.
Together, Owlet and VillageFor are connecting parents with support for themselves alongside the care and reassurance they seek for their baby.
"We built VillageFor because too many mothers move through the journey into parenthood believing that struggling in silence is simply what motherhood is supposed to feel like," say the co-founders of VillageFor, Christy Davis and Caitlin Probst.
"We lived that silence ourselves. We know what it is like to be at home wondering if what you are feeling is normal, if you are okay, or if anyone else feels this way. VillageFor is built for those moments," they add. "Owlet has earned an extraordinary level of trust with parents when it comes to caring for their babies. Together, we have an opportunity to care for the person behind the monitor, too. Because caring for a baby and caring for the person raising them should never be treated as two separate things."
In honor of this partnership, VillageFor members can receive a discount on Owlet products, and Owlet360 members will receive three months of free access to VillagePlus, which offers five My Village seats, allowing members to bring the people they trust into the experience with them.
It's postpartum support like this that can make all the difference that parents need during those first difficult months with newborn twins at home.
Do you wish there had been a partnership like this one to offer mental health support when you welcomed your twins? Let us know in the Comments section below or connect with us on Instagram to share your thoughts!
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