Editorial
Dimitris Loutradis
Editor in Chief
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Correspondence: Dimitris Loutradis, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 10 Alkaiou, GR 115 28, Athens, Greece, e-mail: info@hsog.gr
Multiple pregnancies present unique challenges and considerations for both expectant parents and healthcare providers. While the joy of anticipating multiple bundles of joy is undeniable, managing multiple pregnancies requires careful monitoring and personalized care to ensure the health and well-being of both the mother and her fetuses. Prenatal care for multiple pregnancies often involves more frequent antenatal visits, specialized screenings and consultations with maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Ultrasound examinations are typically offered more frequently to monitor fetal growth, detect any abnormalities and assess the health of each fetus. While many multiple pregnancies progress smoothly, they are inherently at a higher risk for certain complications compared to singleton pregnancies. Some of the potential complications include:
1.Preterm Birth: Multiple pregnancies are more likely to result in preterm birth; premature neonates may face challenges and may require specialized medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit.
2.Low Birth Weight: Twins and higher-order multiples are more likely to be born with low birthweight, which can increase the risk of health problems both at birth and later in life.
3.Gestational Diabetes: Pregnant women carrying multiples have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes; proper management of gestational diabetes is crucial to prevent complications for both the mother and her fetuses.
4.Preeclampsia: Multiple pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of developing preeclampsia.
5. Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): In monochorionic twins, TTTS may occur when blood vessels in the placenta connect the circulatory systems of the fetuses unevenly, resulting in an imbalance in blood flow between the twins.
In this special issue, Tsakiridis et al. found that one out of nine hospitalized high-risk pregnancies were twins, thus, imposing a high burden for the high-risk pregnancy unit, while one third of them had symptoms of threatened preterm labor. Through regular prenatal care, early detection of complications and proactive intervention, when necessary, healthcare providers may help mitigate the risks associated with multiple pregnancies and thus, improve perinatal outcomes.