Multiple pregnancies are often associated with a range of complications.
Twins are born prematurely four times more often than single babies and have to stay in intensive care sixteen times more often. The death rate for twins is three times higher than that for single children and the death rate for triplets is four times higher. The economic impact of multiples pregnancies also has to be considered.
Couples that have had to wait a long time for a child and have undertaken fertility treatment, are often pleased with a multiple pregnancy. Many couples are more concerned anout unsuccessful fertility treatment than with future health problems in the child(ren).
The probability of having a multiple pregnancy is significantly higher after IVF treatment than with naturally conceived pregnancies. Meanwhile approximately 30% of all IVF treatments carried out in the KinderWunschKlinik result in a multiple pregnancy compared with a naturally conceived rate of just under 2%.
The increase in multiple pregnancies and the associated increase in premature births present problems to paediatricians. For example, triplets are usually born in the 32nd week and must stay in intensive care for nearly two months.
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