Birth status and twin birth weight discordance

• Published in: Ginekologia polska Vol. 80; no. 9; pp. 664 - 669
• Main Authors: Szymański, Sławomir, Malinowski, Witold, Ronin-Walknowska, Elzbieta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Polish
• Published: Poland 01-09-2009
• Subjects: Birth Order; Birth Weight; Diseases in Twins - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Male; Poland - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - epidemiology; Twins; Poland
• ISSN: 0017-0011

The aim of the research was to estimate the influence of birth weight discordance on birth status of twins.
Material of the research consisted of 560 foetuses derived from successful twin pregnancies. In the analysis the following factors were taken into consideration: birth status, gasometry, and birth weight discordance.
The degree of birth weight discordance under 10% was noted in 50% of twin pregnancies (n = 140), discordance of 10%-20% was observed in 30.7% (n = 86), and > 20% - in 19.3% (n = 54).
Birth weight discordance is an important risk factor for fetal and neonatal morbidity which is higher in smaller twins than in larger ones. Along with the degree of birth weight discordance, an increased risk of neonatal complications was observed.