The risks of pregnancy with twins

Risks in pregnancy with twins

09/08/2015

In recent years, the number of multiple births in Germany has increased significantly. Especially more twins were born. According to experts, pregnancy with twins remains risky despite all medical advances.

Pregnancy with twins is associated with risks
Pregnancy with twins, despite all medical advances, according to expert assessment associated with risks, reports the news agency dpa. Women often suffer from nausea, anemia, high blood pressure, water retention such as water in the legs or varicose veins. Professor Birgit Seelbach-Göbel, vice-president of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics, said this was the largest advanced training congress of gynecology that ended on Saturday in Dusseldorf.

„These are always high-risk pregnancies“
In an interview with the German Press Agency Seelbach-Göbel explained to the twin pregnancies: „These are always high-risk pregnancies. For the mother, the risk of a singleton pregnancy is increased. And for the children there is a risk of miscarriage and a premature birth due to space problems, but also the risk of a child's growth retardation.“ The 60-year-old is also the director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Regensburg at the Hospital Barmherzige Brüder.

In 20 percent of the cases, two children share a placenta
As the agency further reports, the children usually developed evenly when each twin has its own placenta, which is true for the vast majority. „However, if two children share a placenta and maybe even the pericardium, it may be that there is a vascular connection between the twins, and one is feeding at the expense of the other“, So Seelbach-Göbel. This is reported to be about 20 percent of the case. Then a very special care is needed.

Specialized clinics
Expectant twin mothers can turn to specialized clinics. These „know best how to monitor such a pregnancy optimally“, said the professor. „Measures such as regular growth controls and Doppler sonography are needed. This is very time-consuming, because you have to measure every single multiple object again and again with ultrasound. For established gynecologists and some clinics do not have the equipment“ explained the expert. „At birth, the know-how of physicians and midwives is crucial. In normal birth, unfortunately, some knowledge has been lost in recent decades and urgently needs to be learned again“, So Seelbach-Göbel.

Two identical twins
According to the Federal Statistical Office, in 2013 nearly 25,000 multiple-born children were born. The majority were twins. Three-, four- or even five-birthday births are enormously rare. An extraordinary case of a multiple birth was reported last year from Munich. There it came in a hospital to a Vierlinggeburt, which concerns two identical twins. As reported at the time, there were a total of 33 doctors and nurses at birth. (Ad)