title: Prediction of Time to Delivery Week-by-Week in Women with a Triplet Pregnancy.
abstract: ObjectiveSome clinicians advise prophylactic administration of antenatal steroids for fetal lung maturation in women with a triplet pregnancy. However, the effect of corticosteroids is limited to 10 to 14 days after administration. The aim of this study was to assess the natural course of triplet pregnancies to allow a better anticipation for administration of corticosteroids.Study DesignWe collected data on all triplet pregnancies in the Netherlands from 1999 to 2007 from the Netherlands Perinatal Registration. We calculated time to delivery, the risk of delivery in 2-week intervals at different gestational ages, and the time frame between hospital admission and delivery of the first child.ResultsMedian gestational age at delivery of 494 women with a triplet pregnancy was 33+4weeks (interquartile range of 31-35+1weeks). Twenty-one women (4.3%) delivered between 22 and 24 weeks and 146 women (29.6%) delivered before 32 weeks. At a gestational age of 24 weeks, the chance to deliver within the next week was 0.6%. For 26, 28, 30, 31, and 32 weeks, these risks were 2.4, 2.5, 8.1, 7, and 16.7%, respectively.ConclusionBefore 32 weeks of gestation, prophylactic administration of steroids is not indicated as the risk to deliver within 7 days is < 10%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van de Mheen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ravelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oudijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Isala Clinics, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S Nij
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bijvank
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maxima Medical Center, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Porath
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Duvekot
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A G Holswilder-Olde
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Scholtenhuis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K W M
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Bloemenkamp
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C J
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Scheepers
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woiski
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van Pampus
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J de
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Groot
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pajkrt
authors.affiliation: School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The Robinson Institute, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: B W J
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Mol
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D036801:Parturition; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D059286:Pregnancy, Triplet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones