Stillbirth rate and weight at birth of quintuplets in Japan

Nation-wide data in Japan on births and prenatal deaths of 16 sets of quintuplets during 1974-1985 were analysed. Among the 16 sets, 3 sets were liveborn, 8 were stillborn, and 5 were mixed, with a stillbirth rate of 0.64 (51/80). Effects of sex, maternal age and birth order on the stillbirth rate were not considered because of the small sample size. Effects of gestational age and birthweight on stillbirth rate were also examined. The mean weight of the 40 quintuplet individuals was 1,048 g.