Multifetal Births (Multiples) and Infertility Treatments

Multiple births, when more than one baby is born to a mother during a single delivery, can result in infants with a higher chance of developing cerebral palsy than babies from single births. As the number of infants in a multiples birth increases, so does the risk of a child developing cerebral palsy. The death of one of the multiples results in an even greater likelihood of cerebral palsy.

Pregnancies with multiple fetuses carry a higher risk for complications such as:

  • premature rupture of membranes
  • umbilical cord accidents in delivery
  • abnormal presentation during delivery
  • cesarean sections

Multi-fetal pregnancies are also more likely to result in premature delivery. In 2006, 11% of single babies were born premature, while 61% of multiples were born prior to 37 weeks gestation. Premature birth often results in low birth weight newborns. Both are risk factors for cerebral palsy, as evident in the table below:

Average: Twins Triplets Quadruplets
Birth Weight 5.06 lbs. or 2.3 kg 3.52 lbs. or 1.6 kg 2.86 lbs. or 1.3 kg
Gestational age at delivery 35.3 weeks 32.2 weeks 29.9 weeks
% Admitted to NICU 25% 75% 100%
NICU stay 18 days 30 days 58 days
Risk of cerebral palsy compared to singletons 4x 17x No data

Types of Multiple (Multifetal) Pregnancies

Multiple pregnancy, clinically referred to as a multifetal pregnancy, is a deviation from the normal pregnancy of one fetus (singleton) resulting in the presence of two or more fetuses in utero.

Description Number of Fetus
Twins 2
Triplets 3
Quadruplets 4
Quintuplets 5
Sextuplets 6
Septuplets 7
Octuplets 8
Nonuplets 9
Decaplets 10
Undecaplets 11
Duodecaplets 12
Tredecaplets 13
Quattrodecaplets 14
Quindecaplets 15
Sexdecaplets 16
Sepdecaplets 17
Octdecaplets 18
Nondecaplets 19

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Cerebral Palsy Risk Factors

There are ten common risk factors. To learn more about them, click one of the following:

The presence of one or more risk factors does not ensure a child will develop cerebral palsy; it means chances are higher than if that risk factor was not present. Likewise, the absence of risk factors does not ensure that a child will not develop cerebral palsy. Risk factors merely identify possible cause for concern. Avoiding risk factors will help prevent a child from developing cerebral palsy; any exposure to risk factors prior to conception and during pregnancy should be discussed with a doctor in order to effectively treat and manage risk. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive; other risk factors may contribute to the development of cerebral palsy, as well.