Related Experiment Videos
Prospective risk of stillbirth in multiple-gestation pregnancies: a population-based analysis
Shanthi Sairam1, Kate Costeloe, Baskaran Thilaganathan
1Feto-Maternal Medicine Unit, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, United Kingdom.
Objective:
To evaluate the prospective risk of stillbirth in multiple gestations.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of birth notifications and infant mortality records relating to all multiple gestations to residents in a predefined health district. The incidence of live births and stillbirths was used to calculate the prospective risk of stillbirth at each week of gestation.
Results:
The risk of stillbirth in multiple gestations increased from 1:3333 at 28 weeks' gestation to 1:69 at 39 or more weeks' gestation. The stillbirth risk in multiple gestations at 39 weeks surpassed that of postterm singleton pregnancies (1:526).
Conclusion:
Multiple gestations at 37-38 weeks have a risk of stillbirth equivalent to that of postterm singleton pregnancy. Because multiple gestations rarely proceed beyond 39 weeks, and because stillbirth risk increases several-fold beyond this stage, elective delivery might be justified at this gestational age.