Nearly one in five mothers of multiple births develop post-natal depression – almost double the number of mothers of singletons Michelle Houldsworth, who lives with her husband and twin boys Jack and Connor in Poole, has had first-hand experience of this debilitating condition.

To mark the start of Twins, Triplets And More Week, Michelle talks to Nicky Findley about what she went through and why she is now keen to help other local mums. THEY were our IVF miracles. We had been trying for seven years and it was our first attempt at IVF so when we discovered that I was expecting twins we couldn’t believe our luck.

It wasn’t the easiest pregnancy as I suffered with severe sickness and ended up in hospital on a drip because I had become so dehydrated. I also developed a pregnancy-related liver condition, which can cause complications, so I was induced at 36 weeks.

As I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to have children I had put all my energy into my career (Michelle worked as a senior human resources manager for an insurance firm) so becoming a mother of twins was a shock to the system.

Although I knew it was going to be tough – I felt I just had to get on with it – it’s harder to ask for help when you have two. My mum could have coped with one but not both of them.

When the boys were about five months old I took them to be weighed and I had been working hard to help them put weight on so when I heard they had lost two ounces I bawled my eyes out.

The health visitor came round to see me the next day but I didn’t want to admit defeat. The sleepless nights and that feeling that it was too difficult to leave the house– I just thought it was all part and parcel of having twins.

It was only when the boys were nearly 10 months old that I finally admitted to myself that I was struggling and I was very lucky that my doctor spotted that I had post-natal depression before it got much worse.

My biggest regret now is that I didn’t shout for help earlier. I cared too much about other people’s perceptions of me – I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t cope. It’s still hard work - especially now the twins are mobile – but I am more confident that I can deal with it because there is help out there for mums of multiple births.

Now I want to let other peoplewho are expecting – or have recently had – a multiple birth, about a new and desperately needed initiative that will help prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead.

Until now just one in three mothers have had access to specific parent education on multiple births, which is really worrying as research shows that lack of access to such information increases a mother’s chance of developing PND. But it does not have to be this way.

This week Tamba is launching a groundbreaking pre- and ante-natal initiative, Get Ready For Multiples!, designed to prepare local parents for the unique challenges of having a multiple birth.

The launch includes free and subsidised “survival” classes for expectant parents, and a free practical guide to help parents who may be suffering from post-natal depression.Tamba also offers a free helpline, Twinline, on 0800 138 0509, that provides information and emotional support for parents and professionals.

Having twins, triplets – or more – can and should be a joy. I hope that more local parents will be able to get on and really enjoy their babies because it is so rewarding.

My boys have now celebrated their second birthday and they are doing so well for their age and I feel so proud. Some people say that twins are double the trouble but I always say they are double the cuddles.