The birthrate for twins has increased substantially in the U.S. over the past 35 years.
In fact, twin births represent 3.3 percent of all births, up from 1.9 percent in 1980. But, as more women are delivering twins, their risk for having a premature birth remains high, at over 50 percent, versus about 10 percent for women carrying just one child.
Women that are pregnant with twins have a much greater risk of delivering preterm. A new diagnostic tool has been studied that allows physicians to much more accurately predict whether or not a woman carrying twins is at risk for a premature birth.
Premature babies are at much greater risk for many complications that can affect their physical and intellectual life-long health, and they often require lengthy hospital stays after birth.
What's the new tool that can help calculate the risk for both babies and mothers?
Nathan Fox, MD, discusses why the birthrate for twins have drastically increased, as well as a new diagnostic tool that has been studied to allow for better accuracy in predicting premature birth.