Hazards of Multiple Births

Women over the age of 35 or who use fertility treatments have a higher than normal chance of having a pregnancy resulting in multiple births. You might also need to look out for twins or triplets if they run in your family. Pregnancies with multiple births carry hazards that make the pregnancy riskier to both the mother and babies.

Complications

• Mothers can suffer complications from carrying multiple babies that can make the pregnancy difficult or dangerous. Women approaching a multiple birth can run higher risk of developing gestational diabetes, anemia and high blood pressure because of the extra fetuses and the strain they put on the body. Multiple births increases the risk of gestational diabetes by two to three times the risk of a single pregnancy. The risk of anemia also increases for each extra fetus in the pregnancy because each one takes nutrients. Another hazard occurs if the fetuses develop at different rates. The uterus can only expand so much and occasionally one or more fetuses will develop faster than the others. Impending multiple births also raises the risk for preeclampsia as the pregnancy enters the final months. The bed rest recommended for preeclampsia also raises the risk of blood clots, muscle atrophy, leg swelling, back pain and constipation. The placenta can also have complicatons; a condition called placenta previa causes the placenta to implant covering the cervix and might require a cesarean section.

Premature Birth and Miscarriage

• Premature birth is a common hazard to multiple births with almost half of twins, 90 percent of triplets and nearly every set of quadruplets or more born before 37 weeks. Premature births carry the risks of low birth weight, incomplete development and infant death. Babies born premature often spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit in order to monitor their health until they are stable.

  A multiple birth pregnancy also raises the risk of miscarriage to one or more of the fetuses. Incompetent cervixes and unequal distribution of space and nutritional resources can prevent a fetus from surviving.

Developmental Problems

• Premature birth and improper development in the womb can cause babies born as part of a multiple birth to have developmental problems and disabilities. Although you can correct some development delays with early intervention, many can cause lifelong problems. Common developmental problems include cerebral palsy, vision and hearing loss and delays in mental development. Premature babies also have problems associated with incomplete organ development and can have an increased chance of general ongoing health problems.