Complications affecting the fetuses in multiple pregnancy

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Complications affecting the fetuses in multiple pregnancy

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Medical complications are more common in a multiple pregnancy than in a pregnancy with one fetus. They may include:

Vanishing twin syndrome early in the pregnancy. About two-thirds of twin pregnancies are naturally reduced to one fetus in the first trimester.¹ The mother and remaining twin are not harmed.
Differences in size between the fetuses (discordance), usually from twin-to-twin transfusion.
Higher risk of birth defects and genetic disorders.

Rare problems include:

Twins that share one amniotic sac (monoamniotic twins).
The fetuses becoming entangled (locking twins) during delivery.
Conjoined twins. Twins who are joined together (such as at the chest, head, or pelvis) are called conjoined (Siamese) twins. Conjoined twins are very rare and result when the cells of identical twins do not divide correctly.

References

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Citations
Bush MC, Pernoll ML (2007). Multiple pregnancy. In AH DeCherney et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment Obstetrics and Gynecology, 10th ed., pp. 301–310. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Credits

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Author	Debby Golonka, MPH
Editor	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Gregory A L Davies, MD, FRCSC, FACOG - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Last Updated	July 24, 2007

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Last updated:	July 24, 2007
Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Gregory A L Davies, MD, FRCSC, FACOG - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Editors:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW, Pat Truman, MATC

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