From our previous research with healthcare professionals, we know that education on the specific needs of multiple birth families is often limited in both pre-registration and post-registration programmes (Turville et al., 2022). To help address this gap, the Elizabeth Bryan Multiple Births Centre at Birmingham City University has developed a range of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities designed to enhance knowledge and improve practice. Our module, The Individualised Care of Multiple Birth Families from Conception to One Year, runs over 10 weeks and is aimed at professionals working across maternity, neonatal and community settings. The module is delivered entirely online and asynchronously, allowing participants to study alongside their professional and personal commitments. It can be undertaken as a standalone module or as part of the Enhancing Neonatal Care course.
For those seeking shorter CPD opportunities, we have developed the short course Twinning Trends and Types. This course provides an introduction to key concepts such as zygosity, chorionicity and amnionicity, while exploring how twin pregnancies occur, the impact of fertility treatment, the different types of twins, and how twin pregnancies are monitored. It is the first in a planned suite of short courses exploring how practitioners can better support multiple birth families. Looking ahead, findings from our current research on the first 1001 days and infant feeding journeys will inform the development of guidance on supporting breastfeeding among twins, triplets and higher-order multiples, an area identified as being in high demand. In addition, we have worked with the Royal College of Midwives to develop an online i-learn package on multiple births.
Alongside these CPD initiatives, we work closely with both pre-registration and post-registration programme teams to ensure that content relating to multiple birth families is embedded within the curriculum. Student midwives and neonatal nurses receive dedicated teaching on caring for multiple birth families, and we have recently developed an online learning package for student midwives that provides a comprehensive overview of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. This package will be piloted at Birmingham City University before, we hope, being rolled out to other higher education institutions across the UK.