Delayed-interval delivery in multiple gestation pregnancies: neonatal mortality, morbidity, and development.

Area of Science:

• Perinatology
• Neonatology
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Delayed-interval delivery (DID) involves delivering the first fetus in a multiple gestation pregnancy while delaying the delivery of the remaining fetus(es).
• Assessing infant outcomes associated with DID is crucial for understanding its safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate infant outcomes in multiple gestation pregnancies undergoing delayed-interval delivery (DID).
• To compare mortality, morbidity, and developmental outcomes of infants born via DID with other multiple births.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study including infants born between 22-28 weeks' gestation or weighing 401-1500g.
• DID defined as >24 hours between the birth of the firstborn and retained infant.
• Comparison of outcomes within DID multiples, non-DID multiples, and the general infant population.

Main Results:

• Infants born via DID were younger and smaller compared to other multiples.
• Retained infants in DID did not show significantly different mortality or morbidity rates compared to their firstborn counterparts.
• A notable finding was a lower rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in retained infants.

Conclusions:

• Delayed-interval delivery (DID) demonstrates no evidence of harm in multiple gestation pregnancies.
• DID may offer a potential benefit, including a reduction in bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
• This benefit may be mediated by increased gestational age and birthweight in infants born via DID.