Mums who coped with multiple births

I had quadruplets

Nicola was expecting to have twins from IVF treatment, but ended up with quads.

‘It was like having a bellyful of eels as they wriggled inside me,' said Nicola Richardson, 39, from Bristol, with her then 2-year-old quads.

‘Our lives have been turned upside down, but watching my babies grow up happy and healthy makes it all worthwhile. I'd never have chosen to have four babies at once, but now I wouldn't be without any of them. I feel incredibly blessed.'

Quadruplets - counting the cost

• Nappies changed per week: 168

• Feeds per week: 168

• Loads of washing per week: 21

• Hours of sleep per week: 21

I had triplets

Always on the go: Rachel, Charlotte and Matthew with mum and dad.

‘It's all worth it when I see three little faces smiling at me,' said Manon Higgins, 33, from Macclesfield, with her then 9-month-old triplets.

Nowadays, when we're out, we get stopped all the time and asked: "How do you cope?" But it's all we've ever known. Andy and I always talk things through and try to make time for each other.

We've had three times the hard work of other new parents, but we've also had three times the love and cuddles.

Triplets - counting the cost

• Nappies changed per week: 147

• Feeds per week: 147

• Loads of washing per week: 14

• Hours of sleep per week: 25 hours

I had twins

Busy mum Elaine with Samuel and Matthew.

‘They'll always have each other,' said Elaine Kinsella, 27, from Hastings, East Sussex, with her then 8-month-old twins.

'Having twins obviously means double the expense but friends pass on their children's clothes and my mum is always buying them new clothes. We chat a lot to other parents of multiples on twins websites and that keeps us sane - well, sort of!'

Twins - counting the cost

Nappies changed per week: 120

Feeds per week: 112

Loads of washing per week: 15

Hours of sleep per week: 30

If you need help... TAMBA, the Twins and Multiple Births Association. Call 0870 770 3305, or visit www.tamba.org.uk

www.twinsclub.co.uk offers support and help for mums having twins, triplets or more.

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