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Assessment of Fetal Growth in Twins and Multiple Pregnancy

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Twin and Higher-order Pregnancies

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Abstract

Twins and higher-order multiple pregnancies are at higher risk of perinatal complications. Due to the nature of multiple pregnancies, abdominal palpation and symphysial-fundal height measurements cannot be reliably used to monitor their growth. Ultrasound is currently the best tool for growth surveillance, and due to the high complication rates, this must be performed on a regular basis. The traditional practice is to use singleton growth charts to track the growth velocity of multiples; however, these pregnancies do not follow the same trend in growth. Therefore, it is recommended to use twin-specific growth charts to ensure accurate growth assessments.

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Key Reading

  • D’Antonio F, Khalil A, Dias T, Thilaganathan B. Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK). Weight discordance and perinatal mortality in twins: analysis of the Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK) multiple pregnancy cohort. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2013;41:643–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISUOG. Practice guidelines: the role of ultrasound in twin pregnancy. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2016;47:247–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalafat E, Sebghati M, Thilaganathan B, Khalil A. Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK). Predictive accuracy of Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK) chorionicity-specific twin growth charts for stillbirth: a validation study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2019;53(2):193–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Twin and Triplet Pregnancy. NICE clinical guideline 137. London: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirrup OT, Khalil A, D’Antonio F, Thilaganathan B. Fetal growth reference ranges in twin pregnancy: analysis of the Southwest Thames Obstetric Research Collaborative (STORK) multiple pregnancy cohort. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2015;45(3):301–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s University Hospitals, London, UK

    Becky Liu & Asma Khalil

  2. Vascular Biology Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George’s University of London, London, UK

    Asma Khalil

Authors
  1. Becky Liu
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  2. Asma Khalil
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Correspondence to Asma Khalil .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Asma Khalil

  2. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Liesbeth Lewi

  3. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Enrico Lopriore

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Liu, B., Khalil, A. (2021). Assessment of Fetal Growth in Twins and Multiple Pregnancy. In: Khalil, A., Lewi, L., Lopriore, E. (eds) Twin and Higher-order Pregnancies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47652-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47652-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-47651-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-47652-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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