Multiple Births Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Garth E Fletcher, MD; Chief Editor: Ted Rosenkrantz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 27, 2012
 

History

  • Most multifetal pregnancies are prenatally diagnosed.
  • Maternal complaints of excessive weight gain, hyperemesis gravidarum, the sensation of more than one moving fetus, use of ovulation-inducing drugs, or family history of dizygotic twins should alert caregivers to the possibility of a multifetal pregnancy.
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Physical

  • Women with multifetal pregnancies may have a uterine size that is inconsistently large for dates and may experience accelerated weight gain.
  • Upon auscultation, more than one fetal heart rate may be heard.
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Causes

  • Risk factors for multifetal pregnancy can be divided into natural and induced.
  • Risk factors for natural multifetal pregnancy include advanced maternal age, family history of dizygotic twins, and race.
  • Induced multifetal pregnancies occur following infertility treatment via the use of ovulation-inducing agents or gamete/zygote transfer.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Garth E Fletcher, MD  Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Staff Neonatologist, Joint Division of Newborn Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University

Garth E Fletcher, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and National Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Terence Zach, MD  Department Vice-Chair, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Medicine, Creighton University

Terence Zach, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and Nebraska Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arun K Pramanik, MD, MBBS  Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Neonatal Fellowship, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Arun K Pramanik, MD, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Thoracic Society, National Perinatal Association, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Susannah P Ford, MD  Fellow, Department of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David N Sheftel  MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

David N Sheftel is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David A Clark, MD  Chairman, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albany Medical College

David A Clark, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, Christian Medical & Dental Society, Medical Society of the State of New York, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Carol L Wagner, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina

Carol L Wagner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Chemical Society, American Medical Women's Association, American Public Health Association, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Massachusetts Medical Society, National Perinatal Association, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Ted Rosenkrantz, MD  Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Ted Rosenkrantz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Pediatric Society, Connecticut State Medical Society, Eastern Society for Pediatric Research, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Diamniotic/dichorionic placentation.
Diamniotic/monochorionic placentation.
Monoamniotic/monoamniotic placentation.
 
 
 
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