Multiple Pregnancies | Condition & Treatments

What Are Multiple Pregnancies?

Multiple pregnancy or “multiples” is having more than one fetus in your uterus during a pregnancy. Multiple pregnancies are considered rare, and high-order multiples (triplets or more) are even more rare. However, odds for multiple pregnancies increase with fertility therapies.

How Are Multiple Pregnancies Diagnosed?

• Pregnancy blood testing Levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may be quite high with multiple pregnancy.
• Alpha-fetoprotein Levels of a protein released by the fetal liver and found in your blood may be high when more than one baby is making the protein.
• Ultrasound This is an imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds can be done with a vaginal probe (transducer), especially in early pregnancy, or with an abdominal probe later in your pregnancy.

Symptoms in Multiple Pregnancies

If you are carrying more than one baby, you may experience additional or more intense symptoms as compared to a single pregnancy. These may include:
• More morning sickness
• Greater appetite
• Too much weight gain, especially in early pregnancy
• Uterus is larger than expected for the dates in pregnancy
• Babies' movements felt in different parts of the stomach at the same time

Complications in Multiple Pregnancies

Multiple pregnancies are at increased risk for complications for both the pregnant person and
their babies, and high-order pregnancies often require special care. Carrying multiples increases
your risk for:
• Preterm birth
• Gestational diabetes
• Preterm labor
• Preeclampsia
• Growth disturbances, like intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
• Cesarean delivery

How Common Are High-Order Births?

• 2,785 triplet births in the U.S.
• 148 quadruplet and higher order births
• Triplet or higher order birth rate: 80 per 100,000 births
Source: Births: Final Data for 2021, tables 1st [unnumbered] and 24 [PDF – 1 MB]

UR Medicine's Treatments for Multiple Pregnancies

UR Medicine's Maternal-Fetal Care takes a patient-centered approach to all pregnancies, including multiple pregnancies. We’ll make sure you see your MFM specialist early in your pregnancy to learn about your unique situation and discuss the best options for your care. Our MFM physicians and fellows will review all the findings, and treatment options with you before any interventions.

Your provider will follow the growth of your babies closely through monthly ultrasounds. They may recommend admission to the hospital, or even delivering before your due date.

Our team of MFM care coordinators are your link to your clinical team as your pregnancy progresses, ensuring you receive all the information and support you need before and during delivery at UR Medicine's Golisano Children’s Hospital.

These experienced care specialists can help with:
• Coordinating referrals to UR Medicine’s specialists and experts
• Navigating appointment schedules
• Explaining complex testing and test results
• Planning for delivery
• Answering your questions at any point during your pregnancy

What Sets Us Apart?

UR Medicine's Maternal-Fetal Care has cared for and evaluated more than 30 sets of triplets and quadruplets over the past five years, and is home to the largest number of perinatologists in
the region. We have a method for managing every complication, common or rare, delivered through a care plan personalized to your needs.

Our OB/GYN MFM ultrasound unit is certified by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine to perform Level 2 ultrasounds, a more in-depth evaluation that is needed when carrying twins.

Our experienced Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers and state-of-the-art technology
such as 3D/4D capabilities help diagnose your developing babies effectively and accurately.

Because many complications experienced by multiples can have cardiac concerns, our office offers on-site fetal echocardiography. UR Medicine also offers the region’s only fetal MRI center, to help evaluate many complex conditions and placenta abnormalities. We also have fetal assessment and monitoring on-site at both of our office locations.