Multiple pregnancies over a five-year period: complications in pregnancy, mode of delivery and perinatal outcome

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the type and frequency of complications during multiple pregnancies, mode of delivery and perinatal outcomes in three groups of pregnant women, categorized by gestational age of pregnancy.

Methods: A total of 149 pregnant women and their neonates were included and divided into three groups according to gestational age: moderately preterm birth (from 22 to 33 + 6 weeks - MPTB), late preterm birth (from 34 to 36 + 6 weeks - LPTB ) and term birth (from 37 weeks). SPSS for Windows software (version 23.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) was used for statistical analysis.

Main findings: Of the total 149 pregnancies, 64.86% were completed by Cesarian section, which was the dominant mode of delivery in all gestational groups. Hypertension, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and gestational diabetes pregnancy were the most common complications in the term birth group, PPROM and preeclampsia in the LPTB group, and multiple maternal complications in the MPTB group (p <0.001). In both twins, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was the most common complication in the MPTB group, and neonatal jaundice and perinatal infection and sepsis in the LPTB and term birth groups.

Principal conclusions: Cesarian section was dominant mode of delivery in all groups. RDS and multiple complications were significantly more common in the MPTP group, and neonatal jaundice, perinatal infections and sepsis in the LPTP and term birth groups.