ABSTRACT
The adjustment to multiple pregnancy varies with each woman and depends on many factors, some changeable and some not, including her age, fertility history, the events surrounding her birth and upbringing and, finally, cultural influences. Her marital status may change during the twin pregnancy and her economic level almost invariably falls as a result of such an event. The amount and nature of the support provided by her partner and family, as well as her general state of health, can be improved, although there is always the threat of medical complications. The major challenge to her adaptation, however, is the so-called nocebo effect1-the ‘evil twin’ of the placebo effect. However well-intentioned, the suggestion that something is wrong or likely to go wrong with her body, when indeed no problem exists in truth, often compounds the negative image that many women develop in pregnancy.
