The average number of pounds gained during a multiple pregnancy:

Type of Multiples
Average Weight Gain Weight Range
Twins 42 lbs 20 to 85 lbs
Triplets 50 lbs -30 to 175 lbs
Quadruplets 52 lbs 0 to 110 lbs
Quintuplets 51 lbs 2 to 100 lbs
Sextuplets 56 lbs 31 to 80 lbs

 

The overall weight gain among survey respondents ranged from -30 to 175 lbs with the majority of mothers gaining between 40 and 80 pounds. (For more information about weight gain during a higher-order multiple pregnancy, see Pregnancy FAQ.)

Type of Multiples In-home monitoring for contractions
Twins 30.7%
Triplets 52.1%
Quadruplets 60.9%
Quintuplets 53.9%
Sextuplets 57.1%
  • 11.3% of survey respondents underwent an amniocentesis
  • 0.7% of respondents had a chorionic villi sampling test (CVS)

 

Was a cerclage performed? Average gestation at delivery
No 75.5% 32.9
No answer 3% 32.3

Yes 21.5%

 32.4
The average gestation a cerclage was performed was 15.6 weeks ranging from 8 to 27 weeks.

 

Many mothers expecting higher-order multiples births are hospitalized prior to delivery. Below is the percentage of survey respondents who indicated being hospitalized prior to delivery based on the type of multiples:

  • 61.5% Twins (hospitalized on average 1 time)
  • 70.5% Triplets (hospitalized on average 1.7 times)
  • 86.1% Quadruplets (hospitalized on average 3.8 times)
  • 84.6% Quintuplets (hospitalized on average 1.4 times)
  • 100% Sextuplets or more

Only 2.1% of mothers smoked during their higher-order multiple pregnancies.

The average gestation respondents’ doctors predicted the pregnancy would last is as follows:

  • 36.4 weeks Twins
  • 33.7 weeks Triplets
  • 31.7 weeks Quadruplets
  • 30.9 weeks Quintuplets
  • 30.4 weeks Sextuplets

1.49% (a total of 27) respondents chose to undergo a multi fetal reduction. Of those 27 surveys:

  • 48.15% delivered triplets
  • 33.33% delivered quadruplets
  • 7.41% delivered quintuplets
  • 11.11 delivered sextuplets or more

For more information about multi-fetal reductions, see Pregnancy FAQ.

88.22% of respondents felt their multiple birth pregnancy was high-risk.

The following is a list of the most common complications survey respondents’ experienced during their higher-order multiple pregnancy:

55.4% pre-term labor (See Pregnancy FAQ for information on bed rest to reduce preterm labor during a higher-order multiple pregnancy.)

  • 29.3% hypertension related complications (PIH, toxemia, preeclampsia, etc.)
  • 22.7% vaginal bleeding
  • 18.1% anemia
  • 18.1% carpal tunnel syndrome
  • 14.2% gestational diabetes
  • 13.2% infection
  • 11.9% prolonged rupture of membranes
  • 10.6% severe itching (PUPPPS, cholestasis, rash)

For information on choosing a medical professional to manage a higher-order multiple pregnancy, see Pregnancy FAQ.