Twin Pregnancy as a High Risk Pregnancy: New Medical Statistical Data from the German Democratic Republic

Abstract

In 1972 the rate of multiple births showed a much more substantial decrease than in the years before. In the period 1963-1971 it dropped from 20.3‰ to 19.3‰ and in 1972 to 18.3‰. The frequency of low birth weight in children from a multiple birth is 10 times higher than in all newborn children and the early neonatal mortality of children from a multiple birth is 8 times higher than that of all newborn infants. Cerebral damage is 30 times higher in children of low birth weight than in children of normal birth weight. In the period 1965-1967 perinatal death associated with cerebral damage (recorded on the death certificate) accounted for 5.7% of all children of low birth weight and for 0.2% of children weighing at birth over 2500 g. Eearly diagnosis of multiple pregnancy and early in-patient care of women with multiple pregnancy will improve the development of multiple fetuses and give children from a multiple birth much better chances in life. In all twin studies it has to be considered that a relatively high proportion of twins is affected to a higher or lesser degree by cerebral damage.