The stoppit baby follow-up study: the effects of prophylactic in utero progesterone, given in twin pregnancy for the prevention of preterm birth, on child health and development at three to six years of age

AbstractThis is a follow-up study of twins, including 33 twinpairs from the Stockholm area, aiming to study the cognitive development of twins at eight years of age. The twins have been followed at different ages from birth onwards. All children were tested with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children in a Swedish translation (WISC). The WISC test consists of a Verbal and a Performance Scale. There were no significant differences between twin girls and twin boys on these Scales. On the Performance subtests Block Design, Object Assembly, and Coding, however, the twin girls performed significantly better than the twin boys. In comparing cognitive development for twins and singletons, the twin group had somewhat lower average scores than the singletons. Prematurity and low birth weight continued to be related to cognitive development at eight years of age. Also at this age the school teacher completed a questionnaire about the twins social behaviour and some personality traits. There was a relation between one questionnaire factor, a low score of assertiveness, and the mother's negative or ambivalent expectations concerning the twin pregnancy. The twin group with the mother's negative expectations also had significantly lower results on the subtests Comprehension and Coding. Negative mothers had more premature twins than mothers who were positive toward the twin pregnancy.

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Is Routine Hospitalization in Twin Pregnancy Necessary? A Follow-up Study

Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae twin research ◽

10.1017/s0001566000004724 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 34 (3-4) ◽

pp. 189-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Anna-Liisa Hartikainen-Sorri

Keyword(s):

Pregnancy Complications ◽

Premature Birth ◽

Twin Pregnancy ◽

Bed Rest ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Hospital Bed ◽

Gestational Week ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

Twin Pregnancies

AbstractDuring the years 1979-1980, a prospective study was carried out to evaluate the value and efficacy of routine hospital bed rest in the prevention of premature birth and pregnancy complications in twin gestation. This was done by comparing hospital bed rest to special antenatal care at outpatient clinic. Since the results did not support the idea of using routine hospital bed rest, this was abandoned. Because the material was rather small, the results of the changed policy of management were controlled in the present follow-up study. The material consists of 102 twin pregnancies diagnosed during the years 1982-1983. The number of deliveries before the 34th gestational week and of < 1500 g weighing infants were still decreasing (9.0% and 3.0%). Perinatal mortality after the 24th gestational week was 2.0%. The follow-up study confirmed the unefficacy of routine hospital bed rest. Early diagnosis is the basis of the management of twin pregnancy. This allows counselling of the pregnant women, regular examinations to detect pregnancy complications, and also planning of the delivery.

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