Multiple Pregnancies - Talk Medical

Multiple pregnancies, the presence of more than one fetus in the womb, can at the same time be quite challenging and rewarding. The current rising use of fertility drugs has increased the incidence of multiple pregnancies in the industrialized world. This is often because fertility treatments cause more than one egg to be released during ovulation, or cause the implantation of more than one fertilized egg into the uterus.

Twins are born every 1/90 births, and identical twins are born in 1/250 births. Identical twins are born from a single fertilized egg that divides and develops into two genetically identical fetuses. Fraternal twins appear from the separate fertilization of two eggs which have been released in one ovulation cycle. Genetically speaking, they are as identical as two siblings from separate births.

A mother carrying a multiple pregnancy may experience common pregnancy symptoms more severely than a mother carrying only one child. As well, a multiple pregnancy puts the mother at a higher risk of developing complications such as preeclampsia, premature labor and the baby being small for its gestational age.

While many people advise women pregnant with twins to participate in bed rest or hospital admittance, there is no evidence to support that this is a necessary procedure. Research also does not support the regular use of Cesarean section delivery for all twin births. Since multiple births are such a rare occurrence, the data in this area is quite sparse. However, the increasing use of fertility treatments means that the incidence of multiple pregnancies is on the rise.

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