Effect of birth order on intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight twins

We evaluated the effect of birth order on the incidence and severity of intraventricular hemorrhage in 29 sets of very low birth weight twins (1500 g or less). Intraventricular hemorrhage occurred in 55% of first-presenting twins and 62% of second-presenting twins. The incidence of minor intraventricular hemorrhage (grades I and II) was 41% for first twins and 52% for second twins, whereas the incidence of major intraventricular hemorrhage (grades III and IV) was 14 and 10%, respectively. None of these differences reached statistical significance. We conclude that birth order does not appear to have a major effect on the incidence or severity of intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight twins.