title: Multiple gestations and late preterm (near-term) deliveries.
abstract: Multiple gestations present unique challenges to the modern obstetrician. Many twin and high-order multiple pregnancies are delivered between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation either secondary to preterm labor or obstetrical complications necessitating intervention. Recognizing the increasing prevalence of multiple gestations and the impact of late preterm deliveries in modern practice, this review analyzes the impact of multiple pregnancies on perinatal outcomes, reviews the strategies to prevent preterm labor, and summarizes potential indications for late preterm delivery. In this paper, "late preterm" has been used instead of "near-term," as the former was considered more appropriate to reflect this subgroup of preterm infants in a workshop on this topic held in July 2005, organized by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. ym12102@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Young Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cleary-Goldman
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: D'Alton
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects