Suddenly . . . A Twin Pregnancy
Pregnancy may have different meanings to different women. It may entail positive aspects such as the fulfillment of a dream, or a social role, when it changes an unsatisfying and monotonous life, or even when it rescues a relationship. On the other hand, it may also present negative aspects such as when it is not planned, triggers relationship breakups and loss of maternal independence, or is interpreted as a fetal intrusion. Indeed, pregnancies induce various changes in women's bodies, the social roles of a couple and family setting, requiring emotional changes, and adjustments to this new situation.
When pregnancy is diagnosed as multiple, with two or more fetuses, these changes can at first be even more striking for the couple, mainly because of perinatal risks such as pre-term delivery, low birth weight, fetal malformations, increased risk of mortality and morbidity, preeclampsia, and maternal bleeding, among others (Bryan, Reference Bryan2003).
Until the 1980s, multiple pregnancies were considered a rare phenomenon due to their lesser frequency. However, because of assisted reproduction techniques the number of multiple pregnancies has increased significantly. In Spain, studies show that in the past 20 years twin pregnancies have doubled, and triplets have increased by six times (Roca de Bes et al., Reference Roca de Bes, Gutierrez Maldonado and Gris Martínez2008).
In Brazil, data from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) of IBGE, between 1992 and 1999 show a total of 1,033 mothers of twins versus 194,903 non-twin mothers (Pazello, Reference Pazello2006). Colletto (Reference Colletto2003) points out that in the city of São Paulo, as assessed in 2003 with the emergence of assisted reproduction, the incidence of twins was 10.45 and 0.29 for triplets per 1,000 births. The increase in worldwide incidence of multiple pregnancies, considering perinatal as well as economic and social risks, portrays a troubling scenario for public health.
Notwithstanding the higher risks, couples who undergo assisted reproduction often have a preference for multiple pregnancies, perhaps due to a wish to build an immediate family (Gleicher & Barad, Reference Gleicher and Barad2009; Kalra et al., Reference Kalra, Milad, Klock and Grobman2003), cultural aspects such as beliefs and myths about multiple children, ideals about motherhood with twins, and a search for love or a more emphasized complement to the family (Baor & Blickstein, Reference Baor and Blickstein2005). To view multiple pregnancies from such a perspective may lead parents expecting multiples, including the attending health team, to neglect the risks (Campbell et al., Reference Campbell, van Teijlingen and Yip2004).
Previous studies that evaluated psychopathological disorders in multiple pregnancies have demonstrated increased incidence of depression and anxiety (Baor & Blickstein, Reference Baor and Blickstein2005; Campbell et al., Reference Campbell, van Teijlingen and Yip2004; Colpin et al., Reference Colpin, Munter, Nys and Vandemeulebroecke1999; Ellison & Hall, Reference Ellison and Hall2003; Fisher & Stocky, Reference Fisher and Stocky2003; Kalra et al., Reference Kalra, Milad, Klock and Grobman2003; Klock, Reference Klock2004; Leonard, Reference Leonard1998; Nys et al., Reference Nys, Colpin, De Munter and Vandemeulebroecke1998; Roca de Bes et al., Reference Roca de Bes, Gutierrez Maldonado and Gris Martínez2008; Thorpe et al., Reference Thorpe, Golding, MacGillivray and Greenwood1991; Vilska et al., Reference Vilska, Unkila-Kallio, Punamäki, Poikkeus, Repokari, Sinkkonen, Tiitinen and Tulppala2009; Yokoyama, Reference Yokoyama2003).
Cataldo et al. (Reference Cataldo, Gauer and Furtado2003) point out that the risks of multiple pregnancy bring about greater stress, and relate to the development of depression and anxiety (Pereira & Lovisi, Reference Pereira and Lovisi2008), increasing the risks of this type of pregnancy (Da-Silva et al., Reference Da-Silva, Moraes-Santos, Carvalho, Martins and Teixeira1998; Kennedy & Suttenfield, Reference Kennedy and Suttenfield2001; Loreto, Reference Loreto2003; Misri, Reference Misri, Kostaras, Fox and Kostaras2000).
In Brazil, studies indicate that the diagnosis of depression in pregnancy can range from 29.5% (Baptista et al., Reference Baptista, Baptista and Torres2006) to 38% in low-income pregnant women (Da-Silva et al., Reference Da-Silva, Moraes-Santos, Carvalho, Martins and Teixeira1998), and that anxiety might reach 70.5% (Baptista et al., Reference Baptista, Baptista and Torres2006). However, studies evaluating the risk of depression disorder among multiple pregnancies are still scarce (Bryan, Reference Bryan2003; D'Alton, Reference D'Alton2004; Ellison & Hall, Reference Ellison and Hall2003; Roca de Bes et al., Reference Roca de Bes, Gutierrez Maldonado and Gris Martínez2008; Thorpe et al., Reference Thorpe, Golding, MacGillivray and Greenwood1991), signaling the need for further research on the subject.
As such, this study was based upon the proven need for Brazilian research correlating depressive disorders and multiple pregnancies in an endeavor to investigate the presence of major depression, stress, social support, and self-esteem in women diagnosed with a multiple pregnancies.
Methods
This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out between March 2008 and December 2009 in the Twins Clinic of a tertiary teaching hospital (Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil).
During the study period, 51 pregnant women were invited to take part in the study and gave informed consent. The study protocol is registered in Institution's Ethics Committee (CAPPESQ 0150/10). Inclusion criteria were: multiple pregnancies, intact membranes, absence of fetal congenital, or chromosomal abnormalities.
A semi-structured interview was carried out, based upon a questionnaire comprising closed questions that included demographic data such as maternal age (years), education (elementary, high school, and college), religion (yes, no), planning of pregnancy (yes, no), marital status (with partner, without a partner), and professional activity (yes, no), as well as questions to ascertain beliefs about motherhood of twins, expectations about the arrival of multiples, expectations of change after delivery, characteristics of life, and perceived or expected changes during and after pregnancy.
To assess major depression, a Portuguese version of the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD), mood disorders assessment module, translated and validated for the Brazilian population, was applied (Fráguas et al., Reference Fráguas, Henriques, Lucia, Iosifescu, Schwartz, Menezes and Martins2006). This test provides rapid and accurate identification of mental disorders and was developed from criteria proposed by DSM-IV. To evaluate stress and social support, the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP) was used. There are three separate scales measuring stress, self-esteem, and social support. It was translated and validated for the Brazilian population by Weissheimer (Reference Weissheimer2007).
Qualitative data were analyzed with the technique of content analysis or thematic analysis (Bardin, Reference Bardin1977), a qualitative assessment that implies the quantitative analysis of results, to interpret in an objective, systematic, and quantitative manner the communication content expressed in the interviews. This content was then categorized and analyzed with quantitative techniques.
Quantitative data were analyzed using the software SPSS for Windows version 16.0. Relative frequencies were compared with χ2 tests with Yates correction for continuity, or Fisher's exact test, when appropriate. Significance level was set at 0.05.
Results
The present study enrolled 51 women with twin pregnancies. Mean maternal age was 28.4 ± 7.7 years (range: 18–47) and gestational age at the time of the interview was 17.2 ± 4.7 weeks. Major depression was diagnosed in 16 (33.3%) women. Demographic details are shown in Table 1.
TABLE 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics According to the Diagnosis of Major Depression in Women With Twin Pregnancies
*χ2 test or Fisher's exact test.
Fatigue or loss of energy was referred to by all women diagnosed with depression. On the other hand, insomnia or hypersomnia was the most common finding (74.3%) in cases without depression. Several other depressive symptoms were found significantly more often in women with depression (Table 2).
TABLE 2 Frequency of Depressive Symptoms According to the Diagnosis of Major Depression in Women With Twin Pregnancies
*χ2 test or Fisher's exact test.
These women were also more concerned about significant physical changes during pregnancy and reported negative expectations more often in the semi-structured interview (Table 3).
TABLE 3 Data From the Semi-Structured Interview According to the Diagnosis of Major Depression in Women With Twin Pregnancies
*χ2 test or Fisher's exact test.
Results from the PPP questionnaire showed that 24 (47%) women had stress, 14 (27.5%) reported that were not receiving support from their partners, 15 (29.4%) had a lack of social support, and 11 (21.5%) had a low self-esteem (Table 4).
TABLE 4 Findings From the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile Questionnaire According to the Diagnosis of Major Depression in Women With Twin Pregnancies
*χ2 test or Fisher's exact test.
Discussion
Twin pregnancies are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome. Previous studies have also shown greater emotional and social liabilities that are risk factors for depression. In a study involving twin pregnancies following assisted reproduction, Roca de Bes et al. (Reference Roca de Bes, Gutierrez Maldonado and Gris Martínez2008) identified depression in 18.9% of the parents up to four years after delivery, while up to one-third of pregnant women bearing twins can be diagnosed with depression during pregnancy (Bryan, Reference Bryan2003; D'Alton, Reference D'Alton2004; Ellison & Hall, Reference Ellison and Hall2003; Thorpe et al., Reference Thorpe, Golding, MacGillivray and Greenwood1991). The present study, which applied Radloff's Spanish version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), has demonstrated similar figures in twin pregnancies conceived spontaneously in our population.
Studies of pregnant women's mental health require caution because changes in sleep patterns and depressive symptoms such as hunger, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and poor concentration are commonly seen at certain stages of pregnancy (Baptista & Baptista, Reference Baptista and Baptista2005). It is therefore essential to employ adequate instruments for evaluation of mental heath during pregnancy. PRIME-MD-structured interview allows distinction between physiological symptoms related to pregnancy and abnormal cases of depression.
The high prevalence of depression found in this study highlights the importance of examining the mental health of pregnant women during prenatal care, because it interferes with self-care and adherence to consultations (Baptista et al., Reference Baptista, Baptista and Torres2006). In multiple pregnancies, which require more care and frequent medical follow-up appointments, a concurrent depression leads to even greater risk.
Major depression in our study was associated with several depressive symptoms such as fatigue, loss of energy, changes in appetite, reduced interest in daily activities, depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, decreased concentration, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and recurrent thoughts of death. Moreover, significant association was described with stress, lack of support, concern with significant body changes, and negative aspects of having twins.
The significant association between stress and major depression emphasizes the need for an accurate psychopathological evaluation as overlap of these conditions can further complicate pregnancy and affect maternal–fetal bonding. Studies also indicate that stress related to delivery and care of twins is associated with increased physiological risk during pregnancy (Elster, Reference Elster2000; Thorpe et al., Reference Thorpe, Golding, MacGillivray and Greenwood1991). Constant medical follow-up and increased expectations regarding demands and fears also contribute to more stress in women carrying twins (Baor & Blickstein, Reference Baor and Blickstein2005; Klock, Reference Klock2004).
Lack of support from friends, coworkers, and family members may be interpreted as a risk factor for depression. In view of the increased stress, social support is crucial to make pregnant women feel secure. The importance of social environment for providing comfort and support to pregnant women was noted, because in the postpartum period women feel safe, aware that other people will help to take care of their babies. Moreover, studies signal the importance of social support to minimize stress during pregnancy and after (Feldman et al., Reference Feldman, Eidelman and Rotenberg2004, Garel et al., Reference Garel, Charlemaine and Blondel2006; Leonard & Denton, Reference Leonard and Denton2006).
Concern about physical changes due to a twin pregnancy was also associated with major depression. Fear of body deformity and failure to meet the imposed cultural standards of the ideal of a slim body are associated with other fears arising from multiple pregnancies, maternity, and social demands. Previous studies also refer to the fear of significant physical changes and deformity, of not returning to their previous condition, and the fear that the baby is a threat to her bodily integrity (Garel et al., Reference Garel, Charlemaine and Blondel2006). Nys et al. (Reference Nys, Colpin, De Munter and Vandemeulebroecke1998) found that 21% of pregnant women felt frustrated when facing the physical discomforts and limitations of pregnancy.
The relationship between awareness of negative aspects of having twins during and after childbirth and depression is also meaningful as it reduces maternal independence, contrary to the popular widespread idea that having twins is always ‘cute’ and ‘wanted’. In this study, women often had not planned their pregnancy and therefore the financial concerns had a great impact. Thus, while the positive and magical belief that twins shield the woman from a depressive condition, more realistic beliefs — although excessively negative — place her at risk for a major depressive disorder.
It can be verified that the main psychosocial risk factors influencing the mental health of women who are pregnant with twins are: exacerbated stress during pregnancy, fear of gaining too much weight or of a deformed body, low self-esteem, lack of social support, and negative beliefs or expectations about the babies, among others. These issues should not be ignored by health professionals when evaluating the physiological risks of multiple gestations. Attention should also be given to risk factors for a depression disorder, which can negatively influence self-care in pregnant women and their adherence to prenatal care, and later the mother–baby bonding process.
