In the United States, About 1% of All Births Are Multiple Births (2 or More Babies at One Time)

A multiple nativity is a pregnancy with two or more fetuses. Names for these include the following:

• twins – two fetuses
• triplets – three fetuses
• quadruplets – four fetuses
• quintuplets – five fetuses
• sextuplets – vi fetuses
• septuplets – seven fetuses

While multiples business relationship for simply a minor percentage of all births (about 3 per centum), the multiple nascence rate is rising. Co-ordinate to the National Centre for Health Statistics, the twin nascency charge per unit has risen seventy percent since 1980 and is currently iii.2 per ane,000 live births. The nascence rate for triplets and other higher-order multiples has also risen dramatically, but has slowed since 1998.

Women expecting a multiple nascency volition need to meet their health intendance provider more than oft than if they were having a single pregnancy. Typically, you'll run into your provider every 2 to three weeks during the commencement trimester of a multiple pregnancy, the American Pregnancy Association says. That'southward because you are at greater risk for complications, and more frequent visits allow your provider to monitor you lot more closely.

What Causes Multiple Birth?

At that place are many factors related to having a multiple pregnancy. Naturally occurring factors include the post-obit:

• Heredity – A family history of multiple pregnancy increases the chances of having twins.
• Older age – Women over thirty take a greater run a risk of multiple formulation. Many women today are delaying childbearing until later in life, and may have twins as a event.
• High parity – Having 1 or more previous pregnancies, peculiarly a multiple pregnancy, increases the chances of having multiples.
• Race – African-American women are more probable to have twins than any other race. Asian and Native Americans have the lowest twinning rates. Caucasian women, especially those over historic period 35, accept the highest rate of higher-lodge multiple births (triplets or more).

Other factors that have profoundly increased the multiple nativity rate in recent years include reproductive technologies, including the post-obit:

• Ovulation-stimulating medications – clomiphene citrate and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) help produce many eggs, which, if fertilized, tin can outcome in multiple babies.
• Assisted reproductive technologies – in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other techniques may assist couples conceive. These technologies oft use ovulation-stimulating medications to produce multiple eggs, which are then fertilized in the laboratory and returned to the uterus to develop.

How does Multiple Pregnancy Occur?

Multiple nascency unremarkably occurs when more one egg is fertilized and implants in the uterus. This is chosen congenial twinning and can produce boys, girls or a combination of both. Congenial multiples are simply siblings conceived at the aforementioned time. Withal, just every bit siblings often look akin, fraternal multiples may look very like. Fraternal multiples each take a separate placenta and amniotic sac.

Sometimes, one egg is fertilized and then divides into ii or more than embryos. This is called identical twinning and produces all boys, or all girls. Identical multiples are genetically identical, and they commonly look so much alike that even parents take a hard fourth dimension telling them apart. Notwithstanding, these children take different personalities and are distinct individuals. Identical multiples may take individual placentas and amniotic sacs, but most share a placenta with separate sacs. At that place can be additional complications with identical twins. Rarely, identical twins share 1 placenta and a single amniotic sac.

Managing Multiple Births

Specific direction for multiple births volition be adamant by your doctor or midwife based on:

• your pregnancy, overall health, and medical history
• the number of fetuses
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the pregnancy
• your opinion or preference

Management of multiple births may include the post-obit:

• Increased nutrition – Mothers conveying ii or more fetuses demand more than calories, protein and other nutrients, including iron. Higher weight gain is besides recommended for multiple pregnancy. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women carrying twins who accept a normal torso mass index should gain between 37 and 54 pounds. Those who are overweight should proceeds 31 to l pounds; and obese women should gain 25 to 42 pounds.
• More frequent prenatal visits – Multiple pregnancy increases the risk for complications. More frequent visits may aid detect complications early enough for effective handling or direction. The female parent's nutritional status and weight should also be monitored more closely.
• Referrals – Referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, called a perinatologist, for special testing or ultrasound evaluations, or to coordinate care of complications, may be necessary.
• Increased balance – Some women may as well need bedrest – either at habitation or in the infirmary depending on pregnancy complications or the number of fetuses. Higher-gild multiple pregnancies often crave bedrest starting in the center of the 2d trimester. Preventive bed balance has non been shown to prevent preterm nascency in multiple pregnancy.
• Maternal and fetal testing – Testing may exist needed to monitor the health of the fetuses, specially if at that place are pregnancy complications.
• Tocolytic medications – Tocolytic medications may be given, if preterm labor occurs, to help slow or stop contractions of the uterus. These may exist given orally, in an injection, or intravenously. Ane of the tocolytic medications often used is magnesium sulfate.
• Corticosteroid medications – Corticosteroid medications may be given to subtract breathing complications and other problems related to premature in babies. Lung immaturity is a major problem of premature babies.
• Cervical cerclage – Cerclage (a procedure used to suture close the cervical opening) is used for women with cervical insufficiency. This is a condition in which the cervix is physically weak and unable to stay closed during pregnancy. How are Multiple Births Delivered?

Commitment of multiples depends on many factors including the fetal positions, gestational age, and health of mother and fetuses.

More often than not, in twins, if both fetuses are in the vertex (head-down) position and there are no other complications, a vaginal delivery is possible. If the kickoff fetus is vertex, but the second is not, the get-go fetus may be delivered vaginally, and then the 2nd is either turned to the vertex position or delivered breech (buttocks are presented beginning). Occasionally, complications occur during commitment such as prolapsed cord (when the cord slips down through the cervical opening). Emergency cesarean birth of the second fetus may be needed. Usually, if the first fetus is not vertex, both babies are delivered by cesarean. Most triplets and other higher-order multiples are born by cesarean.

Vaginal delivery mostly takes identify in an operating room because of the greater risks for complications during nascency and the potential demand for cesarean delivery. Cesarean commitment is commonly needed for fetuses that are in abnormal positions, when the mother has certain medical conditions, or when at that place is fetal distress.

Thank y'all to Bella Baby Photography for capturing and sharing these Beaumont baby photos. All photographs are supervised and may non be considered safe sleep environments.

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Source: https://www.beaumont.org/conditions/multiple-birth-about

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