Multiple pregnancies at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital, 1941 to 1947

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In the six and one-half year period prior to July 1, 1947, there were 22,943 deliveries at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital. Among these there were 257 multiple pregnancies, an incidence of 1:91 for twins and 1:4,580 for triplets.The mean birth weight in this series was 2,354 Gm.The mean length of gestation for twin pregnancies was 256.7 days and for multiple pregnancies (including triplets) in which the combined weight of the babies was over 5,000 Gm. is 271.2 days.The mortality for all infants and fetuses weighing more than 1,000 Gm. was 8.2 per cent and for those over 2,500 Gm. was 1.6 per cent. The mortality for single infants born in this hospital during the same period was 2.5 per cent over 1,000 Gm. and 1.6 per cent over 2,500 Gm.The mean ratio between the weight of the placenta and the combined birth weight of the twins was 1:6.7, a ratio only slightly different from that of 1:7 found for single infants.The twins associated with 48 monochorionic placentas were of the same sex in 46; of different sexes in 2. Those associated with dichorionic placentas were of the same sex in 92, of different sexes in 70.The incidence of pre-eclamptic and hypertensive toxemia in this series was 21 per cent, in comparison to approximately 8 per cent for all deliveries. Postpartum hemorrhage and polyhydramnios also occurred more frequently than in single pregnancies.Prematurity was the most important cause of death in this series of twin infants. Polyhydramnios, placenta previa, and abruptio placentae were the maternal complications most commonly associated with fetal mortality.