title: A review of 19 sets of triplets: the positive results of vaginal delivery.
abstract: The outcome of 19 triplet pregnancies delivered at Waikato Women's Hospital is analyzed, with particular regard to the mode of delivery. During the period 1981-1992 the incidence of triplets was 1:1,945. Twelve sets of triplets were delivered by Caesarean section (63%) with 6 perinatal deaths occurring in this group, compared to none in 7 sets of triplets delivered vaginally (37%). All triplet pregnancies were correctly diagnosed antenatally by ultrasound examination at a mean gestational age of 19 weeks (range 11-28 weeks). The most common antenatal complications were preterm labour in 18 pregnancies (95%) and preeclampsia in 4 (21%). The mean gestation at delivery was 33 weeks (range 25-39 weeks). The outcome of triplet pregnancies was better in the group that delivered vaginally than those delivered by Caesarean section. Greater maturity of the infants delivered vaginally appeared to be the major factor for the lower neonatal morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Waikato Women's Hospital, Hamilton, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Roman
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014310:Triplets