Does multi-fetal pregnancy reduction adversely influence intra-uterine growth?

Multi-fetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) is offered in the management of higher-order multiple gestations to reduce the risks associated with such pregnancies. Pregnancy outcomes, including birthweight, following MFPR have been examined with variable findings. However, little attention has been paid to in utero growth in such pregnancies. This study examines whether the intra-uterine growth performance of a twin pregnancy resulting from MFPR differs from that of an unreduced twin pregnancy. This was a retrospective analysis comparing the intrauterine growth of 20 higher order multiple pregnancies that underwent MFPR with resulting di-chorionic twin gestations with 293 unreduced di-chorionic twin gestations. Biometric nomograms were derived for the unreduced twin population and the biometric parameters for the reduced pregnancies were compared with these. There was a difference with respect to femur length in the period 20-28 weeks (p = 0.003) but no other significant differences were observed. MFPR does not itself adversely influence intra-uterine fetal growth.