Releasing the pause button: mothering twins during the first year of life.

The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate the basic social psychological problem mothers of twins experience during the first year after delivery and the process they use to resolve this fundamental problem. Life on hold was the basic social psychological problem that mothers of twins experienced during the first year of their twins' lives. Releasing the pause button was the four-stage process mothers progressed through as they attempted to resume their own lives. These four phases were (a) draining power, (b) pausing own life, (c) striving to reset, and (d) resuming own life. The most vulnerable period for mothers of twins is the first 3 months postpartum. Intensive interventions need to be in place to support women during this time.