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National Multiple Births Awareness Day

Fascinating instances where two or more babies are born from the same pregnancy, captivating medical marvels.

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Connect with parents of multiples through community events and support-focused content that addresses their unique parenting challenges and celebrates their families.

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Share tips for managing twins/triplets: feeding strategies, safe sleep practices, and sanity-saving routines
Spotlight local parents-of-multiples support groups and community events happening in May
Feature real stories from families with multiples about identity, sibling bonds, and navigating double (or triple) the parenting
Promote products/services designed for multiples: strollers, feeding supplies, childcare solutions

History

Founded in 2005 by a non-profit organization called Multiple Births Canada (MBC), National Multiple Births Awareness Day (NMBAD) has been going strong for around two decades. The inaugural event was scheduled to take place on May 28 in honor of the Dionne Quintuplets, who were born in 1934.At the time, the successful birth and survival of the Dionne Quints, five identical and premature infants, was unprecedented. Their story drew enormous attention and became a cultural phenomenon, often described in awe at the medical odds they overcame. However, the spotlight also created lasting challenges for the family and raised complicated questions about children’s rights, consent, and privacy. In many ways, their experience helps explain why an awareness day is not only about celebration, but also about protection, dignity, and long-term wellbeing for multiples.The Dionne girls, Yvonne, Annette, Cecile, Emilie, and Marie, lived to adulthood, a remarkable outcome given the era and the medical realities of premature birth. Their story remains a powerful reminder that multiples are not a curiosity or a spectacle. They are individual people who deserve to be treated as such, even when the world is fascinated by the “matching” part.In a nod to this fascinating history, the first NMBAD events took place at the Dionne Quints Museum in North Bay, Ontario. From there, the idea expanded into an annual opportunity to connect families, highlight available resources, and encourage supportive policies and practices.National Multiple Births Awareness Day serves several purposes at once:

How to celebrate

Attend a Multiple Births Local Event

Many different organizations may host events and activities in honor of National Multiple Births Awareness Day. These gatherings can range from casual playdates to more structured community programs. Some are built for parents who want a chance to talk to someone who understands why a “quick trip to the store” can feel like planning a small expedition. Others focus on education and practical support, like safe sleep for multiples, feeding strategies, or how to divide and conquer bedtime without burning out.Local events often reflect the age group in the community. Families with newborns may appreciate low-key meetups that allow for flexible arrival times, private spaces for feeding, and stroller-friendly locations. Families with school-age twins and triplets might enjoy park days, craft events, or group games that encourage each child’s individuality. Teens and adult multiples sometimes join panels or discussion groups focused on identity, comparisons, and the oddly frequent question, “So, who’s older?” (Sometimes by minutes, sometimes by a whole lot more in terms of personality.)Those who don’t know of an event happening nearby might want to check with a parents-of-multiples support group, a childbirth education center, a pediatric practice, or a community center. Another option is to host something in honor of NMBAD, even if it is small. A coffee meetup at a library, a stroller walk, or a bring-your-own-picnic gathering can be enough to create a connection. The key is to make it welcoming and practical for families who may be juggling feeding schedules, nap windows, or the logistics of transporting multiple little humans at once.For anyone planning an event, a few thoughtful touches go a long way: Choose an accessible venue with parking, ramps, and room for double strollers.Keep the schedule flexible and avoid long “sit still” segments.Include name tags that let each child choose what they want to be called, which helps reinforce individuality.Offer simple activities that do not require supplies families must carry in, like bubble play, sidewalk chalk, or a scavenger hunt.Consider a quiet corner for sensory breaks, nursing, or decompressing.

Get Involved with a Multiple Organizations

Parents of multiples who are feeling disconnected or in need of support can check out different resources that may be available. While every family is different, multiple births often come with common themes: higher rates of prematurity, more frequent medical appointments, more equipment needs, and a bigger demand on time, energy, and finances. Support organizations exist because many families truly benefit from hearing, “Yes, this is hard, and no, you’re not failing.”Multiple groups frequently offer: Peer-to-peer support, including mentors who have “been there” with twins, triplets, or higher-order multiples;Educational materials on pregnancy, infant care, and child development specific to multiplesCommunity meetups and family events;Advocacy for better resources in healthcare, childcare, and schooling;Guidance for unique situations such as NICU stays, feeding challenges, or coordinating different developmental needs within the same age group.It can be helpful to ask an organization how they serve different stages of life. Some groups focus heavily on pregnancy and infancy, while others provide ongoing programming for school years, adolescence, and adult multiples. Families formed through different paths, including fertility treatment, spontaneous multiple pregnancies, adoption, and blended families, may also find a welcoming place to share experiences and get practical advice.Even people who are not parents of multiples can get involved. Friends, relatives, educators, healthcare workers, and childcare providers can use this day to learn more about what support truly looks like. Sometimes that means offering something specific, like a meal drop-off, help with school pickups, or a hand with laundry. Sometimes it is learning to speak to each child directly rather than treating siblings as a matched set.Some organizations to inquire with may include: Multiple Births CanadaMultiples of AmericaAustralian Multiple Birth AssociationTwins Trust UKBeyond joining, consider participating in awareness and fundraising efforts that help keep resources available. Many organizations use donations to provide parent education, support hotlines, scholarships for conference attendance, or community programming. Supporting these efforts can be a meaningful way to honor families who are navigating intense seasons of caregiving. National Multiple Births Awareness Day Timeline1875 Galton’s Early Twin Studies British scientist Francis Galton publishes “The History of Twins,” proposing twin comparisons to separate the roles of heredity and environment and laying the groundwork for modern twin and multiple birth research. [1]1934 Birth of the Dionne Quintuplets The Dionne quintuplets were born in Ontario, Canada, becoming the first known set of identical quintuplets to survive infancy and drawing worldwide attention to the medical, social, and ethical issues around multiple births. [1]1962 FDA Approves Clomiphene Citrate for Ovulation Induction The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves clomiphene citrate, a fertility drug that stimulates ovulation and is later associated with an increase in twin and higher-order multiple pregnancies. [1]1978 First IVF Birth and Changing Multiple Birth Patterns The birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby conceived via in vitro fertilization, signals a new era of assisted reproductive technologies that will significantly influence rates of multiple pregnancies. [1]1998 ASRM Issues Guidelines to Reduce High-Order Multiples The American Society for Reproductive Medicine publishes practice guidelines on limiting the number of embryos transferred in IVF cycles to lower the risk of triplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies and related complications. [1]

Galton’s Early Twin Studies

British scientist Francis Galton publishes “The History of Twins,” proposing twin comparisons to separate the roles of heredity and environment and laying the groundwork for modern twin and multiple birth research. [1]

Birth of the Dionne Quintuplets

The Dionne quintuplets were born in Ontario, Canada, becoming the first known set of identical quintuplets to survive infancy and drawing worldwide attention to the medical, social, and ethical issues around multiple births. [1]

FDA Approves Clomiphene Citrate for Ovulation Induction

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves clomiphene citrate, a fertility drug that stimulates ovulation and is later associated with an increase in twin and higher-order multiple pregnancies. [1]

First IVF Birth and Changing Multiple Birth Patterns

The birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first baby conceived via in vitro fertilization, signals a new era of assisted reproductive technologies that will significantly influence rates of multiple pregnancies. [1]

ASRM Issues Guidelines to Reduce High-Order Multiples

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine publishes practice guidelines on limiting the number of embryos transferred in IVF cycles to lower the risk of triplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies and related complications. [1]

FAQ

What factors increase the likelihood of having twins or higher-order multiples?

The likelihood of multiple births is influenced by several factors, including family history, fertility treatment, and maternal age. A family history of fraternal (non‑identical) twins on the mother’s side, particularly in first‑degree relatives, is associated with a higher chance of twins. Use of fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovulation‑inducing medications significantly raises the probability of twins and higher‑order multiples because they can stimulate the release or transfer of more than one egg. Maternal age also matters: women in their late 30s are more likely than younger women to release multiple eggs in a cycle, which can result in fraternal twins. Population‑level differences exist as well, with dizygotic (fraternal) twinning rates varying by ethnicity and region.

How do twin and multiple pregnancies differ medically from singleton pregnancies?

Twin and higher‑order multiple pregnancies carry higher medical risks than singleton pregnancies for both the pregnant person and the babies. Parents are more likely to experience complications such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, anemia, and cesarean delivery. Babies from multiple pregnancies have higher rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. Certain complications, such as twin‑to‑twin transfusion syndrome, can occur in identical twins who share a placenta. Because of these risks, medical guidelines recommend more frequent monitoring, specialized ultrasound assessments, and delivery planning in a facility that can provide advanced maternal and newborn care. [1]

Do twins and other multiples usually reach developmental milestones at the same time as singletons?

Many twins and multiples reach major developmental milestones, such as sitting, walking, and talking, within a similar overall age range as singletons, but small delays are more common. Research has found that twins, especially those born preterm or with low birth weight, may show mild lags in early language and motor skills compared with singletons, although most catch up over time. Prematurity and medical complications are stronger predictors of delay than the fact of being a twin itself. Pediatric and early childhood guidelines recommend using each child’s corrected age if born early, monitoring progress individually rather than comparing co‑twins, and seeking evaluation if delays are persistent or significantly outside expected ranges.

What are common misconceptions about identical and fraternal twins?

Several misconceptions surround twins. One frequent misunderstanding is that all twins are “identical.” In reality, most twins worldwide are fraternal (dizygotic), which means they come from two different eggs and can be of different sexes and look no more alike than ordinary siblings. Another misconception is that identical (monozygotic) twins always have exactly the same personalities, preferences, or health outcomes. Although they share nearly all their DNA, environmental factors and individual experiences shape personality, behavior, and even medical risk over time. People also sometimes assume that twinning “skips a generation,” but this pattern is not a rule; instead, fraternal twinning is linked to complex genetic and hormonal factors that can appear in multiple generations in different ways.

How do fertility treatments affect the rate of multiple births?

Fertility treatments have played a major role in the rise and recent decline of multiple birth rates in many high‑income countries. Earlier practices in in vitro fertilization often involved transferring several embryos at once, which increased the chance of pregnancy but also produced many twins and higher‑order multiples. Over time, professional societies and regulators have encouraged single‑embryo transfer in many situations because of the well‑documented health risks associated with multiple gestation. Similarly, modern protocols for ovulation‑inducing medications emphasize careful dosing and monitoring to reduce the likelihood of high‑order multiples. As these practices have changed, the rate of triplets and higher‑order multiples has dropped in some countries, even while twin rates remain somewhat elevated compared with the pre‑IVF era. [1]

What unique challenges do families of twins and higher-order multiples often face at home?

Families raising multiples often encounter challenges that differ from those of families with children born one at a time. These can include higher financial costs for essentials such as diapers, childcare, and housing, as well as logistical strain from coordinating feeding, sleeping, and medical appointments for more than one same‑age child. Parents of multiples have higher rates of fatigue and postpartum depression, especially when babies are born preterm or require intensive care. Sibling dynamics can also be complex, as parents balance nurturing the close bond between co‑multiples with supporting each child’s individuality. Many health and parenting organizations recommend early planning for practical help, use of community or peer support groups for parents of multiples, and regular discussion with healthcare providers about parental mental health.

How do schools typically handle the question of whether to place twins in the same class?

There is no single rule for classroom placement of twins and other multiples, and educational experts generally recommend case‑by‑case decisions. Research suggests that automatic separation or automatic placement together is less helpful than considering each child’s temperament, academic needs, and social confidence, as well as the quality of the twin relationship. Some twins benefit from being together, particularly in early years or in new settings, while others may thrive when given space to develop independent friendships and identities. Many professional and advocacy groups advise involving parents, teachers, and, where appropriate the children themselves in the decision, and revisiting it over time as needs change.