Abstract

The natural incidence of spontaneous triplet pregnancy is approximately 1 in 8000 births. Premature delivery of one fetus, compromise of one fetus, and death of one fetus of a multiple gestation with healthy co-fetuses are complications unique to multiple gestations. Our purpose was to evaluate the outcome of spontaneous triplet gestations.
In this retrospective study, maternal, neonatal data were collected from 25 sets of triplet pregnancies that were diagnosed between 2011 March and December 2013 in Zekai Tahir Burak Women’s Health Education and Research Hospital - Obstetric Department. There were 15 sets of trichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancies and 10 sets of triplet pregnancies with a monochorionic pair (ie, dichorionic triamniotic triplets). The mean maternal age was 28 (20-33). 75% of patients were primigravida. 50% of patients (12 patient) had abortus (gave birth before 20 weeks). 3 patients gave birth about 33 weeks, birth weights were about 2100-2150 grams.4 patients gave birth about 30 weeks ,with birth weigths of 1800-1850 grams. 2 patients had spontaneous abortion of all fetuses after fetal reduction. Two patients (8%) had complication of postoperative endometritis. 3 patients had preeclampsia (12%). The incidence of dichorionicity in our study of spontaneous triplet pregnancy is 40%. Perinatal mortality was increased in dichorionic pregnancies. The abortus rate was 80%. Although abortus rate was high in spontaneous triplet pregnancy,gestational age at delivery was about 33 weeks. This is because of our hospital’s condition to be a tertiary hospital in obstetrics and neonatology.

Key words: Triplet pregnancy, spontaneous triplet pregnancy, fetal reduction