MULTIPLE PREGNANCY 

DEFINITION:
• Occurs when more than one fetus simultaneously
developed in the uterus

• A multiple pregnancy from a single zygote is called

monozygotic (identical twins), from 2 zygotes is called
dizygotic (fraternal twins), or from 3 or more zygotes is
called polyzygote.

• Culmination of one multiple pregnancies wherein the

mother delivers 2 or more baby
• Multiple Gestation is considered a
complication of pregnancy because a
womens body must adjust to the effects
of more than one fetus. The incidents of
multiple births has increased
dramatically because of the use of in
vitro fertilization, but still only occurs in
2% to 3% of all births.
 TYPES OF MULTIPLE PREGNACY
• Fraternal twins- 2 separate eggs are fertilized and
implant in the uterus. A pregnancy with fraternal twins is
statistically the lowest risk of all multiple pregnancies since
each baby has its own placenta and amniotic sac. You will
sometimes hear fraternal twins referred to as “dizygotic”
twins referring to 2 zygotes (fertilized eggs)
• Identical twins- identical twins are formed when
a single fertilized eggs split in half. Each half (embryo) is
genetically identical, so the baby share the same DNA.
That means that the baby shares many characteristics.
Identical twins may share the same placenta and
amniotic sac. You will sometimes hear identical twins
referred to as “monozygotic” twins referring to one
zygote (fertilized egg)
• Triplets and Higher order multiples -
Triplets, quadruplets, sextuplets, or more can be a
combination of both identical and fraternal multiple. Example,
triplets can be either fraternal (trizygotic), forming from 3
individual eggs that are fertilized and implant in the uterus, or
they can be identical when one eggs divides into 3 embryos or
they can be combination of both.
• -if you are having 3 babies or more, you will need a lot of
support through out your life
Twins = 2 fetuses
Triplets = 3 fetuses
Quadruplets = 4 fetuses
Quintuplets = 5 fetuses
Sextuplets = 6 fetuses
Septuplets = 7 fetuses
 PREDISPOSING FACTORS
• Heredity- Family history of multiple pregnancy
increases the chance of having twins
• Older age - Women over 30 have a greater
chance of multiple conception. Many women
today are delaying childbearing until later in life
and may have twins as a result.
• High parity- Having one or more previous
pregnancies specially a multiple pregnancy,
increasing the chance of having a multiple.
• Race- African American women are more likely to
have twins than any other race. Asian and native
Americans have the lowest twinning rate.
Caucasian women especially those over 35 year old
and above have the highest rate of multiple birth.
• Invitro fertilization- This technological
technique often use ovulation in stimulating
medication to produce multiple eggs which are the
fertilized and return to the uterus to to develop.