PrematurityA pregnancy with twins lasts on average only about 37 weeks and the children are generally 1000 grams lighter than singleborns. Some unfortunately are born much more prematurely and much lighter than this, especially if higher multiples. So while in the "Three, Four or More" study, 62% of twins were born at 36 weeks or more, only in 12% of triplets and 7% of quadruplets or more did the pregnancy last this long. Similarly, 6% of singletons are less than 2500grams, 50% of twins, over 90% of triplets and almost all tof singletons are less than 2500grams, 50% of twins, over 90% of triplets and almost all the even higher multiples. It may take into the schoolyears for multiples to catch-up in size with their peers and this needs to be considered in planning their activities at preschool. The Special Needs section deals with some of the longterm consequences of preterm birth for multiples. Sadly not all multiples will survive and the sub section on Loss introduces how that the school may have to help support the surviving multiple(s). |
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November 5, 2007
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