Are vital Twins prematures?

Abstract

SUMMARYThe Authors have analyzed the data concerning length of gestation and neonatal weigth and length measurements in 2,440 living twin pairs (from the files of the Mendel Institute), in order to verify the frequent assumption that all twins should be considered as prematures and, as such, affected by congenital debility.Comparing their findings with the standard values for prematures, they reach the conclusion that the majority of twins who have survived the perinatal period were not prematures. Furthermore, the less developed among such twins differ from single-born prematures by reason of their subsequent normal auxologic development, whereby the Authors propose that they should rather be considered as “premature-like”.