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Higher Order Multiple Births: Natural Wonder or Failure of Therapy?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

H. Grützner-Könnecke*
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
P. Grützner
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
B. Grützner
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
U. Grützner
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
A. Spalding-Grützner
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
P. Spalding
Affiliation:
ABC Club, International Organisation for Triplets and Higher Multiples, Darmstadt, West Germany
*
Strohweg 55, D-6100 Darmstadt, Germany

Abstract

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Data of 601 families with triplets and higher multiples have been collected. Since about nine years the number of higher-order births has been increasing enormously. The average pregnancy duration and the average birthweight of these mostly premature children have been declining from year to year. Despite the progress in neonatology, the death rate and the rate of handicapped children is very high. To prevent such disastrous outcomes, treatments for infertility should be performed only by physicians in centers with strong controls. Selective abortions are no regular solution to the problem of higher multiple gestation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1990

References

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