ABSTRACT
Twin pregnancy in the population of Europe is relatively common. One in eighty deliveries results in at least two newborns’ coming to the world. Parents expecting twins are usually excited about the vision of large family, however for an obstetrician a multiple pregnancy is a challenge that involves more complications than singleton pregnancy. The risk of complications exceeds 50%, therefore twin pregnancies are considered as high risk. The most common complication is premature birth, which may result in respiratory failure of the newborn, necrotizing enterocolitis or intracranial hemorrhage. Other complications, that are characteristic for twin pregnancies only, are intrauterine growth restriction, intrauterine fetal death one of the fetuses, hemodynamic disorders due to the connecting blood vessels within the placenta in a monochorionic pregnancy or umbilical cord collision in a monoamniotic pregnancy. Perinatal care in a multiple pregnancy should include a determination of chorionicity and amionicity, prevention of premature labor and rapid diagnosis and treatment of complications. Over 75% of twin pregnancies are delivered via caesarian section which is also burdened with sequelae. Likewise, women pregnant with more than one fetuses suffer from anemia, hypertension, hyperemesis gravidarum and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy more often than those in singleton pregnancies. Despite frequent complications, thanks to intensive perinatal care (numerous gynecological and ultrasound examinations, in some cases the necessity of hospitalization), perinatal mortality decreases and more twins develop properly each year.
Support the magazine and subscribe to the content
This is premium stuff. Subscribe to read the entire article.
