title: [Fetal development and gestational weeks for triplets pregnancies and the comparison with singletons].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the fetal developmental regulation and gestational weeks at labor for triplets pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  To detect biparietal diameters and femoral length at different gestational weeks, record gestational weeks of labor and birth weights, and compare with those of singletons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fetal development of triplets slowed down from the beginning of the 28th gestational week compared with that of singletons (the mean difference was 2.1 mm and 3.1 mm respectively, P < 0.01, P < 0.01). Birth weights of 36.2% triplets was less than that of the 10th percent of the same singletons gestational week. 95.7% triplets delivered their babies before 36 weeks. The average gestational week was 34.0 +/- 1.6, obviously ahead of the singletons'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fetal developmental regulation of triplets pregnancies is different from that of singletons, the gestational period is shorter than those of twins and singletons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Wei-wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000502:physiology*