Twin pregnancy and pre-term delivery
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If you are expecting twins or more, your pregnancy will be considered "high risk." Medical Editor Mark Kan, MD, tells you about the risks of preterm delivery.
Your question
What is one of the biggest risk factors in a twin pregnancy?
The expert answers
Multiple pregnancies bring an "instant family" to many couples, and are often viewed with great enthusiasm by parents. It is important to know that along with the joy of multiple newborns, these pregnancies are considered high-risk and should be treated cautiously.
The most important complication of multiple pregnancy is the risk of preterm labor and preterm delivery. Generally, a pregnancy with one baby lasts 37-42 weeks from the last menstrual period. Labor or delivery before this period of time frame is considered "preterm." The incidence of preterm delivery increases as the number of babies inside the uterus increases. Infants who are born prematurely are at risk for problems stemming from organ systems that are not fully developed. One of the most common problems is lung immaturity, however there can be many other complications.
The good news is that there are many treatments which can help patients in preterm labor, including medications that help the fetal lungs mature inside the womb. Irrespective of treatment success however, initial prevention [in the case of fertility treatments]of high-order multiples -- triplets and above -- is always preferable.
