[Mothers of triplets and their children: course from 4 to 7 years after birth].
OBJECTIVE
To study the psychological health of the mothers and their difficulties seven years after the birth of triplets and to compare these results with those obtained at four years.


METHODS
Eleven mothers of triplets were followed up from birth to seven. At four and seven years the psychological status of the mothers and their relationships with the triplets were evaluated using a semi-structured interview and the level of depression was measured using a standardized scale (CES-D). At seven years the scores were compared to those of mothers having a singleton child of the same age.


RESULTS
At seven years three mothers of triplets out of 11 still suffered of depressive symptoms. These symptoms were more frequent than among control mothers but non significantly. One mother of triplets out of two (6/11), twice more than at four years, appreciated the increase of her educative tasks and the decrease of practical problems. In the other half of the sample problems still persisted between adults and children.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the situation seemed to improve at seven years, the mother's psychological distress and quality of relationship with the children remained preoccupying in one family out of two.
Garel
M
M
Unité de recherches épidémiologiques en santé périnatale et santé des femmes, Inserm U 149, 16, avenue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif, France. garel@vjf.inserm.fr
Salobir
C
C
Lelong
N
N
Blondel
B
B
D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012801:Sibling Relations; D013997:Time Factors; D014310:Triplets