Maternal factors associated with small-for-dateness among twins

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Medicine
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Small-for-date infants are associated with increased risks of adverse perinatal outcomes.
• Understanding maternal risk factors is crucial for improving fetal growth, especially in multiple gestations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze maternal risk factors associated with small-for-dateness in twin pregnancies.
• To compare the influence of these risk factors on birth weight in twins versus singletons.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 659 twin pairs and a matched singleton sample.
• Comparison of gestational age-adjusted birth weight in relation to maternal risk factors.

Main Results:

• Non-marital status, job involvement, and prior low-birth weight infants showed a negative interaction with twinning.
• Parity, maternal weight, and smoking during pregnancy had additive effects on birth weight in both twins and singletons.
• Smoking during pregnancy significantly decreased birth weight in both twin and singleton gestations.

Conclusions:

• Certain maternal risk factors have differential impacts on birth weight depending on whether the pregnancy is singleton or twin.
• Exposure to risk factors like smoking during pregnancy can lead to extremely low birth weights in twins.
• Targeted interventions for maternal risk factors are essential for improving outcomes in twin pregnancies.