This slideshow presentation was one of my Year 9 science assignments. It explains multiple births and the complications that can evolve.

1. Causes & Complications of Multiple Births Matthew Holland Lewis Pointing Billy Hade

2. Multiple Birth Facts Chance of having… Twins: 1:80 Triplets: 1:6400 Conjoined or Siamese: 1:50000 chance, about half are still-born. Multiple births have a higher mortality rate.

3. Naturally Occurring Ways of Increasing the Chance of Multiple Births Heredity A family history of multiple pregnancy increases the chances of having twins. Older Age Women over 30 have a greater chance of a multiple birth. Multiple births more common due to today's increase in the number of births later in women's lives. High Parity Having one or more previous multiple pregnancies increases the chances of having multiples. Race African-American women are more likely to have twins than any other race. Caucasian women, especially those over age 35, have the highest rate of higher-order multiple births (triplets, quadruplets etc.).

4. Unnatural Methods in Increasing the Chance of Multiple Births Help produce many eggs, which if fertilized, can result in multiple births. Allows multiple eggs to be fertilised & then returned to the uterus to develop.

5. How Multiple Births Occurs: Fraternal Twinning

6. How Multiple Births Occurs: Identical Twinning

7. Identical Vs. Fraternal Twinning

8. Medical Complications Preterm Labour Nearly half of all twins or higher-order multiples are premature births (born before 37 weeks) The higher the number of fetuses in the pregnancy=greater risk of early birth Premature babies: born before body & organs have not fully matured They are small & may need help breathing, eating, fighting infection, & staying warm

9. Medical Complications Birth Defects Multiple birth babies have about twice the risk of congenital abnormalities including neural tube defects and heart abnormalities. Miscarriage More likely in multiple pregnancies More than one fetus is diagnosed, but vanishes (or is miscarried), usually in the first trimester (three months) Sometimes accompanied by bleeding. The risk of pregnancy loss is increased in later trimesters as well.

10. Medical Complications Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome Condition of the placenta Only develops with identical twins that share a placenta Blood vessels are connected within the placenta and divert blood from one fetus to the other Occurs in about 1 in 7 twins with a shared placenta

11. Medical Complications Abnormal Amounts of Amniotic Fluid More common in multiple pregnancies, especially for twins that share a placenta Caesarean Delivery Abnormal fetal positions increases chances of caesarean birth Postpartum Haemorrhage In many multiple pregnancies; the large placental area places mother at risk of bleeding after delivery.

13. Severe lack of sleep is a common problem with a single child, but with multiple births, many parents require respite programs to help with the difficult situation.