title: Features of multiple pregnancies obtained by in vitro fertilization or spontaneously.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis of infants born to multiple pregnancies obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF) or spontaneously.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of multiple pregnancies in Bakirkoy Maternity and Children's Hospital between February 2008 and January 2009 were investigated. Maternal, perinatal and postnatal data of multiple pregnancies were evaluated. The congenital anomalies determined by physical examination and/or imaging studies in the prenatal, natal and postnatal period and the difference between groups in terms of morbidity and mortality were investigated as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 401 spontaneous multiple pregnancies and 128 IVF multiple pregnancies were included in the study. Rate of multiple pregnancies for live births and IVF rate were 3.8% and 0.79%, respectively. The mean maternal age was 30.1 years (21-43) in the IVF group and 27.9 years (13-43) in the spontaneous group (P < 0.05). The cesarean delivery rate was 100% in the IVF group and 78% in the spontaneous group (P = 0.002). Premature rupture of membranes rate was 9.8% in the IVF group and 3.6% in the spontaneous group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple pregnancies constitute an important health problem due to high perinatal risks and increased health costs. We found maternal age, premature rupture of membranes and cesarean delivery rate significantly high in the IVF group. No significant differences were found between spontaneous and IVF multiple pregnancies in terms of demographic features, hospitalization stay and rate, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, mortality and congenital malformation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology Unit, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Çakar
authors.forename: Sultan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kavuncuoğlu
authors.forename: Esin Yıldız
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Aldemir
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Çetinkaya
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Güzeltaş
authors.forename: Gülseren
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: congenital malformation; in vitro fertilization; multiple pregnancy; neonatal outcome; spontaneous multiple pregnancy