complications occuring in the fetus or neonate
Last reviewed 04/2022
In twin pregancies there is an excess mortality and morbidity; monozygotic twins have a mortality nine times that of singletons, dizigotic three times.
Complications include:
- congenital malformations - neural tube defects, heart abnormalities, incidences of Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes are all increased. Overall, malformations occur twice as often in twin than in singleton pregnancies
- twin to twin transfusion
- preterm delivery and low birth weight, as discussed elsewhere
- respiratory distress syndrome and infection