Biomaterial Database

Obstetric management of high-order multiple pregnancies. 1998

R B Newman

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2233, USA.

High-order multiples are increasingly common as a result of assisted reproductive technologies and represent pregnancies at exceptional risk. This article discusses the antepartum management of high-order multiples, which has in general been highly individualized and poorly studied. Care for high-order multiples should include preterm birth prevention education, the frequent assessment of maternal symptoms and cervical status by a consistent provider, individualized modification of activity, attention to maternal nutrition, ultrasonography for the assessment of fetal anatomy and intra-uterine growth and anticipation of maternal complications. Interventions such as prophylactic cerclage, uterine activity monitoring, prophylactic tocolysis or hospitalization have not improved outcome when used routinely, and guidelines for selective use will be presented. Specialized care for high-order multiples should be directed at identifying congenital anomalies, maximizing fetal growth and preventing early preterm birth, the effect of which will be to improve perinatal outcome for these exceptional pregnancies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008429	Maternal Welfare	Organized efforts by communities or organizations to improve the health and well-being of the mother.	Welfare, Maternal
D010353	Patient Education as Topic	The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.	Education of Patients,Education, Patient,Patient Education
D010808	Physical Examination	Systematic and thorough inspection of the patient for physical signs of disease or abnormality.	Physical Exam,Examination, Physical,Physical Examinations and Diagnoses,Exam, Physical,Examinations, Physical,Exams, Physical,Physical Examinations,Physical Exams
D011225	Pre-Eclampsia	A complication of PREGNANCY, characterized by a complex of symptoms including maternal HYPERTENSION and PROTEINURIA with or without pathological EDEMA. Symptoms may range between mild and severe. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of gestation, but may develop before this time in the presence of trophoblastic disease.	Toxemias, Pregnancy,EPH Complex,EPH Gestosis,EPH Toxemias,Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, EPH,Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria Gestosis,Preeclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1,Pregnancy Toxemias,Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancy,1, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,1s, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,EPH Toxemia,Eclampsia 1, Preeclampsia,Eclampsia 1s, Preeclampsia,Edema Proteinuria Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension,Gestosis, Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria,Gestosis, Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension,Hypertension Edema Proteinuria Gestosis,Of Pregnancies, Toxemia,Of Pregnancy, Toxemia,Pre Eclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1s,Pregnancies, Toxemia Of,Pregnancy Toxemia,Pregnancy, Toxemia Of,Proteinuria Edema Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancies,Toxemia, EPH,Toxemia, Pregnancy,Toxemias, EPH
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011262	Pregnancy Trimester, Second	The middle third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 15th through the 28th completed week (99 to 196 days) of gestation.	Midtrimester,Pregnancy, Second Trimester,Trimester, Second,Midtrimesters,Pregnancies, Second Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Second,Second Pregnancy Trimester,Second Pregnancy Trimesters,Second Trimester,Second Trimester Pregnancies,Second Trimester Pregnancy,Second Trimesters,Trimesters, Second
D011263	Pregnancy Trimester, Third	The last third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 29th through the 42nd completed week (197 to 294 days) of gestation.	Pregnancy, Third Trimester,Trimester, Third,Last Trimester,Last Trimesters,Pregnancies, Third Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Third,Third Pregnancy Trimester,Third Pregnancy Trimesters,Third Trimester,Third Trimester Pregnancies,Third Trimester Pregnancy,Third Trimesters,Trimester, Last,Trimesters, Last,Trimesters, Third
D011272	Pregnancy, Multiple	The condition of carrying two or more FETUSES simultaneously.	Multiple Pregnancy,Multiple Pregnancies,Pregnancies, Multiple
D011295	Prenatal Care	Care provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal and prenatal mortality.	Antenatal Care,Care, Antenatal,Care, Prenatal
D004651	Employment	The state of being engaged in an activity or service for wages or salary.	Employment Termination,Employment Status,Labor Force,Occupational Status,Status, Occupational,Underemployment,Labor Forces,Status, Employment,Termination, Employment