Multiple pregnancies are when there are two or more fetuses in the uterine cavity at the same time during a pregnancy, and twin pregnancies are the most common. In China, in the blessing of newlyweds, "many children and many blessings" often occupy a place.
In addition, with the development of society and the improvement of women's status, as well as the wide application of assisted reproductive technology, the incidence of multiple pregnancies has increased significantly. For many women, having children seems to have become a "time-consuming and laborious" thing, and some people will want to have twins or even multiples, "one step in place".
But how much do you know about the risk of having twins or multiple births and facing the risk of multiple pregnancies?
Complications of multiple pregnancies
Cardiopulmonary complications: maternal pregnancy and postpartum complications increase, such as pregnancy hypertension, which is the most important complication of twin and multiple pregnancies, 3 to 4 times more than single pregnancy, and the onset of early, severe, prone to cardiopulmonary complications.
Anemia during pregnancy: Twin pregnancies are complicated by anemia 2.4 times that of singletons. Malnutrition and anaemia are almost inevitable, as multiple pregnancies require a larger blood supply, especially reduced stocks of iron and folic acid, which can easily lead to severe maternal anemia.
Intrahepatic stasis (ICP) during pregnancy: its incidence is 2 times that of a single child, and bile acid is often more than 10 times higher than normal, which is easy to cause preterm birth, fetal distress, stillbirth, stillbirth and increased mortality in perinatal infants.
Hypertensive syndrome in pregnancy: the incidence is more than 3 times that of singleton pregnancies, and the incidence of three children is 7 times higher than that of twin pregnancies;
The probability of postpartum haemorrhage also increases: twin pregnancies with vaginal deliveries bleed more than single-child pregnancies, with an average bleeding volume of ≥ 500 ml. At the same time, the miscarriage rate of multiple births is higher than that of singletons.
Complications in multiple infants
Preterm birth: about 50% of twin pregnancies are complicated by preterm birth, mostly due to premature rupture of membranes or excessive intrauterine pressure and serious maternal complications.
The birth weight of multiple births is generally small and light: the uterus cannot be infinitely dilated, the fetus is crowded in the womb, and the placenta occupies a relatively small area of the decidua. Insufficient supply of nutrients for multiple fetuses will limit fetal growth.
Increased incidence of miscarriages and congenital malformations: the spontaneous miscarriage rate of twin pregnancies is 2-3 times higher than that of singleton pregnancies, and the greater the number of fetuses, the greater the risk of miscarriage. The fetal malformation rate in twin pregnancies is 2 times higher than that of singletons, and the number of single-born twin malformations is twice that of dual-born twins;
Poor intrauterine environment can lead to an increased probability of fetal adult diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, psychosis, etc.
Being able to conceive twins or multiples at once is naturally a great joy for this family.
However, we cannot ignore the dangers faced by pregnant mothers and babies throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period, which is also a major matter for a family, and once these dangers occur, there is no regret.
Therefore, if the natural pregnancy finds the situation of multiple pregnancies, it is necessary to strictly follow the doctor's instructions and carry out fetal protection or fetal reduction to achieve the dual health of the mother and baby.