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The Northwestern University Triplet Study. II: Fourteen Triplet Pregnancies Delivered between 1981 and 1986

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

L.G. Keith ,
S. Ameli ,
O.R. Depp ,
J. Hobart  and
D.M. Keith
L.G. Keith*
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical Schooland Prentice Women's Hospital and Maternity Center, Chicago
S. Ameli
Affiliation:
Presently, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
O.R. Depp
Affiliation:
Presently, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
J. Hobart
Affiliation:
Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Illinois
D.M. Keith
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Multiple Birth, Chicago, Illinois, USA
*
Prentice Women's Hospitaland Maternity Center, Suite 476, 333 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA

Abstract

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Fourteen triplet deliveries conducted between 1 January 1981 and 30 June 1986 at the principal teaching hospitals of Northwestern University Medical School are reviewed. Maternal demographic characteristics are listed, as are the obstetric outcomes, including mode of delivery, and the fetal outcome. The recent literature of triplet delivery is reviewed.

The rate of triplet delivery in our study was 0.37 per 1,000 live births. About two-thirds of the pregnancies resulted from the use of fertility-inducing agents. Ultrasonic confirmation was available in all cases. The majority of women were delivered by cesarean section (85%). No consistent pattern of presentation was seen. The mean weight of all 42 infants was 1,779 g (± 594). Unlike-sex triplets accounted for most of the sets (77%). The mean 5-min Apgar score of all infants was 9 and had no association with the order of deliveries. The weight differences by sex regardless of birth order were clinically insignificant. Neonatal mortality was 2.3%

Keywords

TripletsFertility drugsCesarean sectionBirthweightNeonatal mortality
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 37 , Issue 1 , January 1988 , pp. 65 - 75
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1988

References

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