Triplet and quadruplet pregnancies riskier

Triplet and quadruplet pregnancies pose more complications for the mother and infants than twin pregnancies. To assess the risk of maternal morbidity and obstetric complications in women with triplet pregnancies, quadruplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies, researchers in Canada compared the outcomes in 12,193 triplet and 778 quadruplet pregnancies with 316,696 twin pregnancies. It was found that the average pregnancy was 3 weeks shorter for triplet pregnancies and 5weeks shorter for quadruplet pregnancies compared with twin pregnancies. More triplet births (17 percent) and quadruplet births (28 percent) than twin births (6 percent) occurred before 29 weeks of pregnancy. Further, compared with twin pregnancies, triplet and quadruplet pregnancies were associated with significantly higher risks of gestational or pre-gestational diabetes, pregnancy-associated high blood pressure, incompetent cervix, delayed labour, caesarean delivery, premature rupture of membranes, excessive bleeding during labour and delivery, and infant death. Mothers of triplets and quadruplets were more likely to be older and to have had fewer previous pregnancies compared with mothers of twins. The researchers stated that the risks of maternal morbidity and obstetric complications are increased in triplet pregnancies and quadruplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies than in twin pregnancies. Thus, women pregnant with multiple babies need more prenatal care, adequate work leave and rest at home than woman pregnant with one baby.