Preterm discordant twins: what birth weight difference is significant?

Article Abstract:

A 30% difference in birth weight appears to be a threshold for substantially increased death rates and serious complication rates in preterm twins. Outcomes were compared for a series of 122 twins born alive at a London, Ontario hospital between 25 and 34 weeks gestation. Twins were grouped by the difference in birth weight between the pair, that is, less than 10%, 10% to 15%, 15% to 20%, 20% to 30%, and more than 30%. Twin pairs with greater than a 30% difference had a 25% higher infant death rate (all deaths in this group occurred in the smaller twin), 38% higher anomaly rates, 32% more infants who were small for gestational age, 33% more 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7, and 17% more instances of abnormal appearance of the white matter in the brain. This happened despite an 80% cesarean rate in this group whereas rates ranged from 34% to 42% in the other groups.

Growth, Birth weight, Twins

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Failure of magnesium sulfate infusion to inhibit uterine activity in pregnant sheep

Article Abstract:

Magnesium sulfate treatment does not seem to be effective in controlling uterine contractions in sheep. Contractions, heart condition, and blood chemistry of the ewe and fetus were monitored in 15 pregnant sheep given injections of either placebo or labor-inducing medication followed by magnesium sulfate. Labor-induced ewes had 13 contractions per hour while non-laboring ewes had 3.7 contractions per two hours. Magnesium sulfate did not reduce contractions in either group. Magnesium sulfate treatment did not affect magnesium blood levels in the fetuses.

Prevention, Physiological aspects, Premature labor, Uterus, Uterine contractions, Magnesium sulfate

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Fetal growth and onset of delivery: A nationwide population-based study of preterm infants

Article Abstract:

Study is presented to assess whether deviations from normal fetal growth are associated with spontaneous preterm delivery. The results suggest that associations between smaller than population mean and spontaneous preterm birth are evident for all gestational age groups while it is also revealed that deviation of fetal growth from the expected mean is associated with spontaneous preterm delivery.

Gestational age

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