Management of Multiple Pregnancies: A Practical Guide

Multiple pregnancies are associated with higher risks for both mother and babies. Women with multiple pregnancies have an increased risk of miscarriage, anemia, hypertensive disorders, haemorrhage, and postnatal illness. These pregnancies are more likely to need an operative delivery, and maternal mortality is generally 2.5 times that of singleton births. Fetuses are at increased risk for anatomic and genetic anomalies, growth abnormalities, prematurity, and several physiological problems related to monochorionicity. This book provides a much needed, up-to-date guide to the management of multiple pregnancies. Presented with a uniform approach to all chapters, information is easily navigable, evidence-based, and highly practical. Heavily illustrated, particularly with ultrasound images – the cornerstone of management of multiple pregnancies - this book will appeal to obstetricians and specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, midwives and ultrasonographers and will improve outcomes for mothers and babies.

Leanne Bricker undertook undergraduate training in South Africa and then in the UK specialised in OBGYN and subspecialised in Fetomaternal Medicine. She was Director of Fetal Medicine at Liverpool Women's Hospital in the UK (2003–2014) and served on the British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society executive committee (2009–2014). Since 2014 she has been Chair of Fetal Medicine at Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi, UAE. She has published over sixty papers, abstracts and book chapters. She is an expert in the management of multiple pregnancy and was involved in the development of the UK NICE guidelines for the management of multiple pregnancy and the RCOG green top guideline for the management of monochorionic twin pregnancy.

Julian N. Robinson is the Chief Medical Officer at Newton Wellesley Hospital, where he was also the Medical Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine for nine years before serving eight years as Chief of Obstetrics at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. His professional interests include Quality and Safety and his clinical and research interests include Obstetrics, Prenatal diagnosis, and multiple pregnancy. He is a Diplomate of the American Boards of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine and a Fellow of American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Basky Thilaganathan was appointed Director of Fetal Medicine at St George's Hospital in 1999. He has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications in indexed journals. His major research interest is placental dysfunction leading to pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and stillbirth (TED talk: http://bit.ly/2i1SqDk). He has led on the implementation of algorithm-based screening at St Georges which has led to an 80% reduction in preterm pre-eclampsia – the severest form of the disease (https://vimeo.com/rcog/authorinsights16361). He is the Clinical Director of the Tommy's National Centre for Maternity Improvement (https://vimeo.com/638468663/23d205d029) located at the RCOG and is Editor Emeritus of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the medical journal affiliated to ISUOG. He is a Council Member on the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) and represents the RCOG on the UK National Screening Committee and the DH Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle oversight committee. He is also the Clinical Lead for the first dedicated high-throughput cfDNA screening NHS lab to undertake cfDNA aneuploidy screening (NIPT) in pregnancy (www.theSAFEtest.co.uk).