title: Multiple births and outcome.
abstract: The rate of multiple-gestation pregnancies has grown exponentially over the last few decades and is responsible for the steady increase in the birth rate of low-birth weight infants. As a group, infants of multiple-gestation pregnancies have higher mortality and morbidity than singleton pregnancies. The increase in adverse outcomes is related directly to the increased risk for preterm delivery and low-birth weight, and not to the multiple gestation itself. Outcomes for multiple-gestation infants appear to be similar whether conceived spontaneously or through artificial reproductive technology. Efforts to reduce the birth rate of low-birth weight infants should target multiple-gestation pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Biology and TriHealth Nurseries, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D001723:Birth Rate; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009017:Morbidity; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology