Triplet pregnancy: a 10-year review of 105 cases at Harare Maternity Hospital, Zimbabwe.

During the 10-year period, 1975-1984, 105 triplet pregnancies were delivered at Harare Maternity Hospital, Zimbabwe, among 286,338 pregnancies in the Greater Harare Unit, giving an incidence of triplets of 1:2,727. The mean gestational age at delivery was 32.5 wk with 81 women (77.1%) delivering before 37 wk. Primigravidas delivered at a significantly earlier mean gestational age (P less than 0.05) and had a higher perinatal mortality (P less than 0.001) compared with grand multigravidas. Of the 315 babies, 277 (87.9%) weighed less than 2500 g. The overall perinatal mortality rate was 327%, with a perinatal mortality rate of 146% for infants weighing greater than or equal to 1000 g. Women hospitalised for bed rest during the antenatal period had fewer perinatal deaths compared with those diagnosed during the antenatal period, but not hospitalised for bed rest (P less than 0.02). No difference was found in the mean gestational age at delivery or the mean birth weights between these two groups. Among infants greater than or equal to 28 wk gestation there were fewer perinatal deaths in triplets delivered by cesarean section compared with triplets delivered vaginally (P less than 0.0004). This suggests that cesarean section may offer the optimal mode of delivery in triplet pregnancy.