British hospitals are to get new guidelines on how to care for the growing number of women who are pregnant with twins or triplets.
Draft proposals have been issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Multiple pregnancies posed a whole range of risks to the mother and to the babies, according to NICE.
The new guidelines set out how women can be closely monitored.
Ultrasound should be used to check the weight of the babies from 20 weeks of pregnancy – and should be repeated at least every 28 days, NICE says. A difference of 25 per cent or more in the weight of babies can indicate growth problems, it says.
It sets out the criteria for calling in expert opinion from a specialist at tertiary level – and calls for multi-disciplinary teams, including ultrasonographers, to provide care.
Dr Fergus Macbeth, of NICE, said: “Multiple pregnancies are associated with higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. These women are also at increased risk of developing a hypertensive disorder like pre-eclampsia, or having a haemorrhage or postnatal illness, while their babies are more likely to develop congenital abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome or cerebral palsy.
"Because of the increased likelihood of complications, pregnant women carrying multiple babies need closer monitoring by healthcare professionals and, in some cases, specialist care.
“Access to specialist care for women and their babies can vary across the country, which is why we are encouraging organisations to register as stakeholders and provide helpful feedback on this draft guideline during this consultation period.
"We want to do all we can to ensure this guideline will enable all women who are expecting twins or triplets to receive high-quality, consistent care regardless of where they live."
A consultation will be under way until April 6th.
Leave a Reply