Advanced cervical dilatation and spontaneous preterm labor: a comparison between twin and singleton gestations

Abstract

AbstractTo determine the admission to delivery interval and the rate of immediate delivery in twin versus singleton gestation complicated by spontaneous preterm labor (SPTL).A retrospective cohort study of pregnant women presenting with advanced cervical dilatation of 3–5 cm and frequent uterine contractions at 24–34 weeks of gestation was performed. The rate of progression to delivery within 12 h and 24 h, as well as rates of prolonged latency, were compared between twins and singletons gestations.Sixty-nine women were included, of which 25 carried twins and 44 singletons. The overall rate of spontaneous delivery within 12 h and 24 h was 47.8% and 59.4%, respectively, and similar between twins and singletons. Nevertheless, prolonged latency of 10 days or more after presentation was more frequent among twins compared with singletons [10/25 (40%) vs. 7/44 (15.9%), respectively; P=0.026]. Moreover, women carrying twins presenting with advanced cervical dilatation had a better chance of completing a full 2-dose antenatal betamethasone course compared with singletons [19/25 (76%) of twins compared with 21/44 (47.7%) of singletons, odds ratio 3.5, 95% confidence interval 1.16–10.34; P=0.022].Up to 60% of women presenting with advanced cervical dilatation prior to 34 weeks’ gestation give birth within 24 h. Nevertheless, women carrying twins have a better chance of completing a betamethasone course and having prolonged latency compared with singletons.