Delayed interval delivery in multiple pregnancies. Is optimism justified?

Objective. Evaluation of the success of delayed interval delivery in multip le pregnancies. Method. Retrospective analyses of all multiple pregnancies with the birth o f one child at a gestational age of 16-31 weeks (n=80). Three groups were d efined: group I, unsuccessful attempt to temporize delivery, group II, inte rval between the first child and the other child or children 3 hours or mor e, with delivery of the remaining children before 28 weeks and group III, p rolongation of pregnancy beyond 28 weeks. Results. In 15 multiple pregnancies (ten sets of twins, five sets of triple ts), the aim was to postpone the delivery of the second (and third) child. The mean gestational age at admittance was 25 weeks. Delay of the delivery of the second child was achieved in ten cases, five in group II and five in group III. In groups II and III, the mean interval of delivery was 12 days ; the gestational age at the delivery of the remaining children in these te n patients was 27 5/7 weeks. No relation could be found between the reason for admittance and the interval in delivery between the first and the other children. The only severe maternal complication was blood loss exceeding 2 liters. In the neonatal outcome of first and second children (with a gesta tional age of 28 weeks or more) no striking differences were observed. Conclusion. Delayed delivery in multiple pregnancies after the birth of the first child is only successful in a minority of patients and should be con sidered prior to the birth of the first child.