The association between maternal factors and perinatal outcomes in triplet pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between maternal factors and outcomes in triplet pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a historic cohort study of 194 triplet pregnancies of ≥24 weeks of gestation that were delivered from 1983 through 2001 from five medical centers. RESULTS: In analyses that were limited to pregnancies with all live-born triplets (178 pregnancies), women with a previous good outcome (>2500 g + >37 weeks of gestation) had longer gestations (+7.9 days, P = .03), better rates of fetal growth (+4.9 g/wk, P < .0001), and higher birth weights (+153 g, P < .0001). Maternal weight gains of <36 pounds by 24 weeks of gestation were associated with lower birth weights (-197 g, P < .0001), and fetal growth rates at ≤25th percentile were associated with a shorter length of gestation (-36.7 days, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Previous obstetric outcome and weight gain by 24 weeks of gestation were associated significantly with fetal growth rate and birth weight; fetal growth rate, in turn, was associated significantly with length of gestation.