Matthew HollandLewis PointingBilly Hade

Chance of having… Twins: 1:80 Triplets: 1:6400 Conjoined or Siamese:

1:50000 chance, about half are still-born.

Multiple births have ahigher mortality rate.

Heredity A family history of multiple pregnancy increases the chances of having

twins.Older Age Women over 30 have a greater chance of a multiple birth. Multiple births more common due to today's increase in the number of

births later in women's lives.High Parity Having one or more previous multiple pregnancies increases the chances

of having multiples.Race African-American women are more likely to have twins than any other

race. Caucasian women, especially those over age 35, have the highest rate of

higher-order multiple births (triplets, quadruplets etc.).

Help produce many

eggs, which if

fertilized, can

result in multiple births.

• Clomiphene Citrate

• FSH: Follicle stimulating hormone

Ovulation-stimulating

Technologies

• In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Assistive Reproductive Technologies

Allows multiple eggs to

be fertilised & then

returned to the uterus

to develop.

Non-identical

Each fraternal twin has been formed from a different sperm & egg

Different genders

Result of…

The release & fertilisation of two eggs cells at ovulation

Identical

Embryos are still of same genetic make-up: produces either all boys or

all girls

Vary due to: exposure to different people, sights , smells & sounds

Result of…

One egg is fertilised, becoming a zygote

Then divides into 2 or more embryos: developing as separate

babies

Preterm Labour Nearly half of all twins or higher-order multiples are

premature births (born before 37 weeks) The higher the number of fetuses in the pregnancy=greater

risk of early birth Premature babies: born before body & organs have not fully

matured They are small & may need help breathing, eating, fighting

infection, & staying warm

Birth Defects Multiple birth babies have about twice the risk of congenital

abnormalities including neural tube defects and heart abnormalities.

Miscarriage More likely in multiple pregnancies More than one fetus is diagnosed, but vanishes (or is

miscarried), usually in the first trimester (three months) Sometimes accompanied by bleeding. The risk of pregnancy

loss is increased in later trimesters as well.

Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Condition of the placenta Only develops with identical twins that share a

placenta Blood vessels are connected within the placenta and

divert blood from one fetus to the other Occurs in about 1 in 7 twins

with a shared placenta

Donor Twin

• Decreased blood volume

• Decreased urinary output

Recipient Twin

• Increased blood volume

• Increased urinary output

Abnormal Amounts of Amniotic Fluid More common in multiple pregnancies, especially for twins

that share a placenta

Caesarean Delivery Abnormal fetal positions increases chances of caesarean

birth

Postpartum Haemorrhage In many multiple pregnancies; the large placental area places

mother at risk of bleeding after delivery.

Many mothers of multiple births find breast-feeding their babies difficult. Different diets and lifestyles are required to produce enough breast-milk for the multiple babies.

Severe lack of sleep is a common problem with a single child, but with multiple births, many parents require respite programs to help with the difficult situation.