Welcome to match

Twins and twin pregnancies are special

match is a special part of the Australian Twin Registry, established to support research into twin pregnancy and twins.

Around the world people study twins to gain insights into factors that affect health and development. In particular these have helped us understand the importance of genes versus lifestyle. In recent years we have come to understand that what happens before we are born may contribute to our later health, and study of twins helps us work out what matters most.

Information about pregnancy recalled years later is often unreliable so, with your help, match collects accurate and standardised information and samples that will tell us about what happens to mothers and their twins during pregnancy. Then in the future, as and when we have new insights into twin pregnancy or how factors very early in life affect health and development, information and samples will be available to study these properly.

match will help obstetricians and midwives improve the quality of clinical care by providing information from studying a large group of women with twin pregnancies, many more than any one obstetrician or hospital would see in their lifetime.

match is a uniquely Australian initiative: other countries have recognised the importance of this but with your help Australia will be the first country to achieve this.

match folders If you are booked into a participating hospital you will be given a folder with:

• information about twin pregnancy
• an invitation to participate in match
• a pregnancy record book

match is new and is starting in a few hospitals in Melbourne before expanding to other hospitals. We are sorry if you would like to join and can't, but would strongly encourage you to register your twins with the Australian Twin Registry after they are born so you can contribute to important scientific research studies. We also recommend that you join the Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) who can provide valuable support before and after the birth of your twins.

match has been developed in collaboration with a group of experts who comprise the match Steering Committee, and represent a wide field of interest. To meet the match team follow this link

Contact match
Tel: freecall 1800 993 103
Email: match-atr@unimelb.edu.au

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I join other research studies if I participate in match?

A. Yes, our aim is to promote research into twin pregnancy and twins. It would be helpful if you let us know about any studies you join, then we can make sure that the research study and match both benefit, and everything is made as easy as possible for you.

If you join match we may contact you to tell you about twin pregnancy research studies that you could join if you wish.