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Gestational Age-Specific Birthweights of Twins Versus Singletons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

B. Luke ,
F.R. Witter ,
H. Abbey ,
T. Feng ,
A.B. Namnoum ,
D.M. Paige  and
T.R.B. Johnson
B. Luke*
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
F.R. Witter
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
H. Abbey
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
T. Feng
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
A.B. Namnoum
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
D.M. Paige
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
T.R.B. Johnson
Affiliation:
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, School of Medicine, Department of Maternal and Child Health, and Department of Biostatistics, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
*
Dept. Gyn/Ob, Houck 228, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

Abstract

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In order to more adequately characterize patterns of intrauterine growth retardation in twins, the mean birthweights of all nonanomalous white or black twins born between 24 and 41 weeks of gestation and surviving until discharge over an 11-year period (547 infants) and all similar singletons (19,072 infants) were compared by completed weeks of gestation. Between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation, the mean birthweights for the 547 twins and the 19,072 singletons were comparable and did not consistently differ statistically. From 36 to 41 weeks gestation, however, the difference became large, consistent, and statistically significant for each week at P < 0.0001. This difference was present among all subgroups of twins, ie, in all males, females, blacks, and whites; it was still evident when the sample was further stratified by both race and sex (black males, white males, black females, white females). These data suggest a pattern of growth retardation in twins compared to singletons which is large, consistent, and statistically significant beginning at 36 weeks gestation. Clinically, these data also suggest the need for ultrasonic examination early in gestation (24-32 weeks) to document normal growth and to provide baseline data, and show the importance of such monitoring later in gestation, specifically after 36 weeks.

Keywords

TwinsBirthweightGrowth-retardationRace
Type
Research Article
Information
Acta geneticae medicae et gemellologiae: twin research , Volume 40 , Issue 1 , January 1991 , pp. 69 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1991

References

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