Abstract
The objective of this study is to describe the time of onset of contractions in twin pregnancies that result in delivery, so as to investigate whether there is a diurnal influence. A UK maternity department database was used to identify twin deliveries over a 5-year period, and the time of onset of labour was retrieved from these records. Two hundred and eleven women with spontaneous onset of labour in twin pregnancies were studied. A significant diurnal rhythm in the timing of contractions was noted, with 45% of deliveries occurring in labour that commenced between midnight and 08.00 hours. This periodicity is similar for twin pregnancies that end in preterm (24-36 weeks of gestation; χ² = 17.2; P < 0.01) or term deliveries (37-40 weeks of gestation; χ² = 13; P < 0.05). The periodicity of onset of labour in multiple pregnancies demonstrates a similar rhythm to singleton pregnancies, where labour most commonly begins between midnight and 08.00 hours.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
