Risks of Multiple Pregnancy: Placental Abruption
Generally, the odds of having twins naturally occur approximately in 1 of every 80 pregnancies and triplets occur approximately in 1 in every 8,000 pregnancies.
However, twins, triplets, and other multiple pregnancies now account for an increasing proportion of all pregnancies in the developed world today due to older maternal and age-expanded use of fertility treatments. With more multiple pregnancies occurring, the risk of complications increases.
Risks of Multiple Pregnancy: Placenta Problems
The placenta plays a vital role in pregnancy, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the babies and removing their carbon dioxide & wastes. The placenta also secretes steroid hormones that regular maternal metabolism and fetal growth and development.
In a multiple pregnancy, each baby may have his own placenta, or two babies may share a single placenta. Either way, if something goes wrong, the babies' survival is at stake. For example, if two eggs are fertilized by two sperm, each baby will share their own placenta called dichorionic diamniotic twins. These are commonly known as “fraternal twins”.
E Fact
Placental abruptions are three times more common in multiple pregnancies because of the increased stretching of the uterus which expands more to accommodate the extra babies. Additionally, multiple pregnancies are at higher risk for the development of conditions that can cause placenta abruption including pre-eclampsia, a more severe hypertension condition of pregnancy.
For a twin pregnancy, the relative risk of placental abruption is 2.2 x greater over a singleton pregnancy. We can assume that in a triplet pregnancy or higher-order multiple pregnancies, the risk of placental abruption is greater.
E Alert
If postpartum bleeding is so heavy that you soak through a sanitary pad in less than an hour, seek medical attention. Signs of a uterine infection that can also cause postpartum bleeding include vaginal discharge with a foul odor or severe abdominal pain not controlled by over-the-counter ibuprofen or Tylenol.
Additional signs of hemorrhage include bright red bleeding that lingers around two to six weeks after delivery, vaginal discharge with a foul odor, or discharge that includes blood clots larger than an inch in diameter.
Placenta Previa
When the placenta implants low in the uterus, covering the cervical opening, it's called placenta previa. The chances of this happening are increased when a uterus has to accommodate two or more placentas. While placenta previa does not pose a risk to the babies' development, it does increase the risk for preterm delivery and heavy vaginal bleeding, especially in the 3rd trimester as the cervix begins to dilate or labor commences.
However, the majority of placenta previas resolve by 32 weeks. As the uterus grows, it can pull the placenta upward and away from the cervix. If the placenta previa does not resolve, modified pelvic rest including no intercourse, no strenuous activity, no prolonged standing, and no heavy lifting can help prevent heavy bleeding.
Bed rest may help the bleeding subside by decreasing the amount of pressure on the placenta. In extreme cases, the mother may require a blood transfusion to prevent excess blood loss. Usually, she will have to deliver the babies via cesarean section.
Abruptio Placentae
Sometimes the placenta begins to detach prematurely from the wall of the uterus, a condition called abruptio placentae. While it can be caused by trauma to the abdominal region, such as a motor vehicle accident, it can also be instigated by other conditions that are common in multiple pregnancies, such as pre-eclampsia, a severe high blood pressure condition.
The detachment may be mild and partial, happening slowly over time, or complete and sudden. Abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding usually accompany complete abruption. This is often accompanied by uterine contractions and nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. If the baby’s health is at risk or the mom experiences extremely heavy bleeding, this requires immediate delivery of the babies by C-section.
In these cases doctors will weigh the consequences of a pre-term delivery vs. the risks of placental abruption and make a decision based on what is best for both the mother’s and the babies’ health.
Hemorrhage
Mothers of multiples have a three to four times increased risk of hemorrhage, or uncontrolled bleeding, during their pregnancy or following delivery. Several factors contribute to the risk:
- A uterus that is stretched and strained by accommodating additional babies
- A greater portion of the surface area of the uterus covered by placental tissue
- Increased chance of undergoing cesarean section
Usually, the only consequence is heavier postpartum bleeding following delivery. However, severe, uncontrolled bleeding puts the mother's life at risk requiring blood transfusions, ICU admission, organ dysfunction, and possibly extra surgery including a hysterectomy to stop bleeding.
Always speak with your doctor or OB-GYN about any health concerns or problems that may arise during your pregnancy.
