Double trouble for IVF mums

Julie and David Babich with their beloved babies, Annelise and Luke. Photo / Doug Sherring

The number of twins born in New Zealand has risen by more than 40 per cent in the past four decades.

Health Ministry figures show 649 sets of twins were born in 2008, up 42 per cent from 1971.

Fertility Associates clinical director Dr Richard Fisher said the increase was partly due to more women having IVF.

A 20 per cent success rate meant several fertilised eggs were used to increase the chance of conception. Twins are created if more than one embryo survived.

Fisher predicted the twin birth rate would drop as changes in IVF treatment meant less embryos were needed to conceive.

University of Auckland obstetrics and gynaecology professor Dr Lesley McCowan said the twins trend was due to women having babies older, as well as more use of assisted reproductive technology.

Sociologist Dr Maureen Baker, also from the University of Auckland, said higher education was the main reason why women delay having a family.

"The longer people stay in school, the longer they delay their first birth."

And Baker said the need for a longer education is down to the higher requirements of today's labour market.

That, coupled with the increased availability of birth control since the 1960s, has enabled women to control when they have a baby.

Baker said the trend of delaying childbirth was more common among European middle classes compared with Pacific Island and Maori, where having children is more of a priority.

Fragile bundles of joy

Wine heirs David and Julie Babich are toasting taking their twins home - following a "roller-coaster ride" after their premature birth.

The general manager of Babich Wines and his assistant winemaker-turned-wife welcomed Annelise and Luke into the world on December 16, about two months early.

She was 1290g, he was 975g. They were so small they could each fit in the palm of a hand and David could slip his wedding ring over Luke's arm.

The pair were delivered by emergency caesarean section at National Women's Hospital after a specialist found Luke was not gaining weight in the womb.

IV lines were put in the babies' arms, they were given antibiotics and put on assisted breathing equipment.

It was five days before the parents could hold their children skin-to-skin, after much sanitation.

The twins stayed in the intensive care unit for five weeks, connected to monitors.

As they were growing so well, their risk status was lowered and this weekend they were strong enough to go home.

Because Luke was born less than 1000g, developmental therapists will monitor his milestones such as crawling.

The couple want to thank the staff and resources at the hospital, which they describe as world-class.