Pregnancy

Risks with Multiple Births

 

The most immediate risk involved with multiple births is pre-term (or early) labor resulting in delivering your baby much earlier (35-37 weeks) than the 39 or 40 weeks that is desired. Nearly half of all twins are born prematurely (before 37 weeks), and the risk of having a premature delivery increases with higher-order multiples.

Premature babies (preemies)

Premature babies (preemies) range from having no medical problems to having multiple and serious health challenges. Because the care of premature babies is so different from that of full-term infants, preemies at Saint Elizabeth typically are placed in our newborn (Neonatal) intensive care unit or NICU. LINK to NICU page in our website. The risk of developing health problems increases the earlier your babies are born.

Your doctor will talk with you about other potential medical issues related to multiple births.