[Multiple pregnancies].

Multiple pregnancies do raise the extraordinary problem of their frequency: conceptions of this type have taken on epidemic proportions as a result of the growth of infertility treatment. The study details the obstetric management, neonatal outcome, and follow-up data of women who were delivered of twins, triplets and more. The management of multiple pregnancies includes early diagnosis, meticulous follow-up, and early decrease of maternal activity. Data on the prognosis of triplet pregnancies are of particular importance when the option of selective termination is considered. The most common complication is preterm labor. The prematurity rate is 50% in twin, 95% in triplet and 100% in multiple pregnancy of higher order. The perinatal mortality was 20 to 80 per 1,000 in twins and 40 to 250 per 1,000 in triplets. During last years, a number of changes took place: introduction of medically assisted procreation, early diagnosis via ultrasound scans, considerable increase in the number of cesarean sections in the case of multiple pregnancies, improved prognosis for premature and growth retarded newborns.