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7. What is the survival rate of triplets? MOST has worked with almost 20,000 families since 1987. During that time the majority of expectant mothers of triplets and quadruplets who have contacted MOST have delivered healthy, albeit pre-term, babies. Even many higher order multiples of quintuplets and sextuplets have had good outcomes. Survival of higher order multiples depends on many factors. The most important factors are the number of babies involved in the pregnancy and the level of prematurity at birth: the more babies involved the greater the risk, but the longer the gestation, the greater the chance for survival. Infants born more prematurely face a greater likelihood of complications for respiratory distress as well as complications from being a patient in the NICU. The risk of perinatal loss (loss prior to or at birth) is much higher for multiple gestation pregnancies than those with single gestation pregnancies. According to CDC data from 2003:
Note that fetal loss is more prevalent at certain gestations; of all fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more, 35.2% occurred between 20–23 weeks of gestation, and 51.3% occurred between 20–27 weeks (MacDorman, et al, 2007). The risk of infant death increases with the increasing number of infants in the pregnancy. According to the CDC data from 2002:
*Note: Infant mortality rates for multiples are largely affected by prematurity and low infant birth weight. Specifically, the infant mortality rate was much higher for low-birthweight infants (birthweights weighing less than 2,500 grams - 5lbs 8oz) than for infants weighing 2,500 grams or more (59.5 versus 2.4 per 1,000 live births). Overall, the infant mortality rate for very-low-birthweight infants (those with birthweights of less than 1,500 grams - 3lbs 5oz) was 250.8 per 1,000 live births, more than 104 times the rate for infants with birthweights of 2,500 grams (5lbs 8oz) or more. Similarly, the infant mortality rate for very preterm infants (those born at less than 32 weeks of gestation) was 186.4 per 1,000 live births, nearly 75 times the rate for infants born at term (37–41 weeks of gestation) 2.5 per 1,000 live births (Mathews, et al. 2004). The overall risk of death by age one is 20 times higher for triplets than singletons (Martin, et al, 2005). Despite the increased risk for loss, if the pregnancy is managed by a
MacDorman Ph.D., M. F., Hoyert, Ph.D., D. L., Martin, M.P.H., J. A., Munson, M.S., M. L., and Hamilton,Ph.D., B. E. (2007, February 21). Centers for Disease Controls' National Vital Statistics Report: Fetal and Perinatal Mortality, United States, 2003, 55(6). Retrieved July 8, 2007 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_06.pdf
Martin, J.A, Hamilton, Ph.D., B.E., Sutton, Ph.D., P.D, Ventura, M.A., S. J., Menacker, Dr. P.H., F. & Munson, M.L. (2005, September 8). Centers for Disease Controls' National Vital Statistics Report: Births Final Data for 2003, 54(2). Retrieved June 27, 2007 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr54/nvsr54_02.pdf
Mathews, M.S., T. J., Menacker, Dr. P.H., F., MacDorman, Ph.D., M. F., (2004, November 24). Centers for Disease Controls' National Vital Statistics Report: Infant Mortality Statistics from the 2002 Period Linked Birth/Infant Death Data Set, 53(10). Retrieved July 8, 2007 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr53/nvsr53_10.pdf For more information, see the MOST Recommendations on the Responsible Use of Fertility Treatments (PDF). Visit the MOST Supertwins Statistics page to learn more about multiple birth complications. MCH Library Resources on Infant Mortality Please
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Copyright MOST 2005 Updated 6/04/08 |