Risk-profiles and outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancies in adolescent mothers.

In this retrospective review of 468 mothers with a multi-foetal pregnancy in Detroit, we describe the risk-profiles and the obstetrical, maternal and foetal outcomes of multi-foetal pregnancy in 59 (13%) adolescents. Overall, most mothers were African American, did not have private insurance and all were unmarried. For most mothers, this was their first pregnancy (59.3%) and their first delivery (69.5%). Almost 50% presented to triage at least once during their pregnancy. Anaemia (78%) and hypertensive disorders (18.6%) were common in this age group. The majority of adolescents delivered preterm as 81.4% were <37 weeks and 49% were <34 weeks. Furthermore, the majority of infants (79%) had low birth weights (median: 1975 g, range: 365-3405 g). This contemporary report emphasises the need for multidisciplinary prenatal management and specialist supervision, as multi-foetal pregnancies in adolescents pose real risks and impact obstetrical, maternal and neonatal outcomes.