TABLE 1.
Characteristics of newborns born to women carrying multiple fetuses and teens carrying singletons1
| Variable | Whole population | Multiples cohort | Teen cohort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neonatal characteristics | |||
| n | 291 | 127 | 164 |
| Gestational age, wk | 37.7 ± 3.1 | 34.9 ± 2.4 | 39.8 ± 1.34 |
| Early term (37.1–38 wk) | 50 | 32 | 104 |
| Preterm (32–37 wk) | 30 | 60 | 34 |
| Very preterm (<32 wk) | 3 | 8 | 04 |
| Birth weight, kg | 2.84 ± 0.68 | 2.29 ± 0.53 | 3.26 ± 0.434 |
| LBW (<2.5 kg) | 31 | 67 | 34 |
| VLBW (<1.5 kg) | 2 | 6 | 04 |
| SGA2 | 17 | 20 | 154 |
| LGA2 | 2 | 0 | 44 |
| APGAR (1 min) | 7.8 ± 1.5 | 7.7 ± 1.6 | 7.8 ± 1.4 |
| Male | 47 | 45 | 49 |
| Mode of delivery: cesarean delivery | 38 | 72 | 124 |
| Types of multiples | |||
| Twins | 71.7 | 71.7 | — |
| Triplets | 26.0 | 26.0 | — |
| Quadruplets | 2.4 | 2.4 | — |
| Maternal characteristics | |||
| n | 234 | 70 | 164 |
| Maternal age, y | 20.7 ± 6.1 | 29.9 ± 4.8 | 17.5 ± 1.14 |
| Race: Black/African American | 57 | 24 | 704 |
| Ethnicity: Hispanic | 21 | 7 | 274 |
| Maternal ppBMI, kg/m2 | 25.7 ± 6.3 | 27.6 ± 7.9 | 25.0 ± 5.64 |
| Underweight (<18.5) | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Normal (18.5–24.9) | 51 | 44 | 52 |
| Overweight (25–29.9) | 21 | 21 | 19 |
| Obese (>29.9) | 22 | 29 | 21 |
| Gestational weight gain,3 kg | 17.7 ± 8.0 | 19.1 ± 8.3 | 17.1 ± 7.64 |
| Less than recommended | 19 | 33 | 134 |
| Recommended | 26 | 43 | 214 |
| More than recommended | 55 | 24 | 664 |
| Parity > 1 | 30 | 60 | 204 |
| Currently smoking | 5 | 6 | 4 |
Values are mean ± SDs or percentages unless otherwise indicated. LBW, low birth weight; LGA, large for gestational age; SGA, small for gestational age; VLBW, very low birth weight.
SGA was defined as <10th percentile for growth rate using the Fenton growth charts and LGA was defined as >10th percentile for growth rate using the Fenton growth charts.
Gestational weight gain categories were determined using the Institute of Medicine categories with adjustment for gestational age at delivery. For the teen cohort, recommended gestational weight gain was 12.7–18.1 kg for underweight women, 11.3–15.9 kg for normal-weight women, 6.8–11.3 kg for overweight women, and 5.0–9.1 kg (11–20 lb) for obese women. For the multiples cohort, recommended gestational weight gain was 22.7–28.1 kg for underweight women, 16.8–24.5 kg for normal-weight women, 14.1–22.7 kg for overweight women, and 11.3–19.1 kg for obese women.
Significant difference between cohorts, P < 0.05.