Twins, Triplets, Multiple Births

Summary

If you are pregnant with more than one baby, you are far from alone. Multiple births are up in the United States. More women are having babies after age 30 and more are taking fertility drugs. Both boost the chance of carrying more than one baby. A family history of twins also makes multiples more likely.

Years ago, most twins came as a surprise. Now, most women know about a multiple pregnancy early. Women with multiple pregnancies should see their health care providers more often than women who are expecting one baby. Multiple pregnancy babies have a much higher risk of being born prematurely and having a low birth weight. There is also more of a risk of disabilities. Some women have to go on bed rest to delay labor. Finally, they may deliver by C-section, especially if there are three babies or more.

Parenting multiples can be a challenge. Volunteer help and support groups for parents of multiples can help.

Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health

Start Here

• Being Pregnant with Twins, Triplets, and Other Multiples March of Dimes Foundation
• Challenges of Parenting Multiples American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Having Twins? How to Stay Healthy American Academy of Pediatrics
• Preparing for Multiple Births Nemours Foundation
• Twins, Triplets, and Other Multiples Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Pregnancy, Multiple National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Twins National Institutes of Health

Related Issues

• Difference Between Identical and Fraternal Twins American Academy of Pediatrics
• Fertility Drugs and the Risk of Multiple Births American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Multiple Pregnancy American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist American Academy of Pediatrics
• Find an Ob-Gyn American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• KidsHealth Nemours Foundation

Specifics

• Multiple Pregnancy and Multiple Births: Understanding the Risks for Mothers and Babies American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Diagnosis and Tests

• Obstetric Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
• Prenatal Testing: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Opening Up About Pregnancy and Loss

Journal Articles

• Twins, Triplets, Multiple Births

Encyclopedia

• Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
• Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome Medical Encyclopedia