Adverse maternal outcomes and birth weight discordance in twin gestation: British Columbia, Canadian data.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether twin pregnancies with birth weight discordance were associated with higher rates of maternal morbidities.

STUDY

DESIGN

A large retrospective population-based cohort study of twins born in British Columbia, Canada, from 2000 to 2010 was performed. Maternal morbidities and growth discordant were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 6,328 twin deliveries during the study period. Pregnancies carrying growth-discordant twins had higher frequencies of hypertension disorders, preterm labor, and cesarean delivery compared with growth-concordant twins. They also stayed longer than 3 days in hospital. Multivariate generalized estimating equation modeling found higher odds of preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preterm delivery, and cesarean delivery in mothers carrying growth-discordant twins compared with those carrying growth-concordant category. The modeling also resulted in higher odds in the length of stay longer than 3 days in mothers carrying growth-discordant twins compared with those carrying growth-concordant twins after adjustment for chorionicity.

CONCLUSION

Maternal complications are associated with growth discordance. Screening for birth weight discordance during pregnancy may alert clinicians to predict subclinical maternal conditions.