To Optimize Birth Timing for Twin Pregnancies, Consider Both Short- and Long-Term Outcomes

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that, to minimize risk for perinatal death in uncomplicated dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy, delivery should not occur before 38 weeks' gestation or after 38 weeks and 6 days' gestation (Obstet Gynecol 2016; 128:e131). To further examine the optimal timing of such births, investigators in Scotland assessed perinatal mortality and morbidity among 43,133 twin pregnancies delivered between 1980 and 2015 at ≥34 weeks' gestation. A subgroup of 9519 dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancy offspring (identified by the sex-discordance of the twins) were evaluated for special education need at school; this included intellectual disability, dyslexia, physical or motor impairment, …