Support for mums with toddler twins

Worcester Twins Club offers a different kind of support for mums with two little ones to keep an eye out for.

"When you go to an ordinary toddler group it's still hard work having two to keep an eye on," said Yvonne Thomas, the club's founder.

"Other mums can have a cup of coffee and relax when they've only got one little one to keep an eye on. But with twins you'll have one running off in one direction and one running off in the other."

Mrs Thomas, who has two-and-a-half year-old twins of her own, said the club began with three mums and their twins meeting up to help each other out.

She said it grew from there, now catering for as many as 22 children and offering advice to mums expecting twins.

"We can offer them support and advice and tell them what it's like," said Rachael Hodgetts, one of the founder members who met Mrs Thomas in hospital shortly after they had both given birth.

"We know what equipment works well, such as which double buggies are best," she said.

"The club is much friendlier and relaxed than other toddler groups I've been to.

"At first I found it difficult going out, but it really makes a difference with the help of other people who are in the same situation."

Mrs Thomas said the club was the only one of its kind in Worcester, despite the fact the Faithful City is said to have an abnormally high number of twins.

"We've heard that Worcester is supposed to be the twin capital of the UK," said Mrs Thomas.

"I was shopping the other day and there was five sets of twins down one aisle," said Mrs Hodgetts.

Worcestershire NHS Trust was unable to confirm if Worcester was a "twins capital", but a spokesman said it was unlikely the birth of twins would be concentrated in a geographical area.

The club is based at the Lyppard Grange Community Centre, in Warndon Villages, and holds its meetings every Monday between 2pm and 4pm.

For more information, call 01905 731910.