Multiple Pregnancy: Should I Consider a Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction?

Decision Point

You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Multiple Pregnancy: Should I Consider a Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction?

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision.

Get the facts

Your options

  • Carry a pregnancy with three or more fetuses.
  • Have multifetal pregnancy reduction. This procedure reduces the number of fetuses.

This information is for women who are pregnant with three or more fetuses. It's also for their partners.

Key points to remember

  • Having fewer fetuses lowers all risks. This makes it more likely that you will have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby or babies.
  • The risk of premature birth is higher when you are carrying multiple fetuses, which increases an infant's chances of having severe health problems.
  • This procedure to reduce the number of fetuses has a risk of miscarriage of the remaining fetuses.
  • Early genetic testing (chorionic villus sampling) and fetal ultrasound can help you find out if any of the fetuses has a problem. This information may help you decide about reducing the number of fetuses.
  • This decision may be emotional and complex. For some people, it raises ethical and spiritual concerns.

FAQs

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