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| Useful Multiple Births Definitions |
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Amnion:
Inner lining of sac containing the developing fetus.
Amniocentesis:
Removal of a portion of amniotic fluid, either to test for chromosomal abnormalities that could indicate Down Syndrome or other disorders, or to relieve polyhydromnios.
Cesarean Section (C-section):
Surgical method of childbirth in which a woman's abdomen and uterus are incised and the baby is delivered transabdominally.
Chorion:
Outer lining of sac containing the developing fetus.
Conjoined Twins:
Monozygotic twins where separation into two individuals is incomplete so their bodies are joined together at some point.
Cryptophasia:
The secret language of twins.
Diamniotic Twins:
Twins who have developed in separate amniotic sacs. These twins may be either dizygotic or monozygotic.
Dichorionic Twins:
Twins who have developed in separate chorionic sacs. These twins may be either dizygotic or monozygotic.
Dizygotic (Or dizygous) Twins:
Twins formed from two separate zygotes. Commonly known as "fraternal twins."
Embryo:
The developing baby during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.
Embryo Reduction:
See Fetal Reduction.
Epidural:
Anesthetic injected in a space at the base of the spinal cord.
Fetal Reduction:
The reduction of the number of viable fetuses/embryos in a multiple pregnancy (usually within a higher order multiple pregnancy) by medical intervention.
Fetus Papyraceous:
A fetus which dies in the second trimester of pregnancy and becomes compressed and parchment-like.
Fraternal Twins:
See Dizygotic Twins.
GIFT:
Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer - assisted conception method.
Higher Order Multiples:
Triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets or more.
Identical Twins:
See monozygotic twins.
IVF:
In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer - assisted conception method.
Intrauterine Growth Retardation:
Impeded or delayed fetal development and maturation due to genetic factors, maternal disease or fetal malnutrition caused by placental insufficiency.
Monoamniotic Twins:
Twins who have developed in a single amniotic sac. These twins are always monozygotic.
Monochorionic Twins:
Twins who have developed in a single chorionic sac. These twins are always monozygotic.
Monozygotic (or monozygous) twins:
Twins formed from a single zygote. Commonly known as "identical twins."
Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction:
See Fetal Reduction.
Multiple Pregnancy:
A pregnancy with more than one fetus.
Neonatal Death:
A death within the first four weeks after delivery.
Neonatal Intensive-care Unit (NICU):
Hospital unit containing special equipment for the management and care of premature and seriously ill newborns.
Oxytocin:
Hormone prescribed to stimulate contractions in order to induce or augment labor and to contract the uterus to control postpartum bleeding. Pitocin is a trademarked name for oxytocin. Oxytocin also causes contractions within the breasts which squeeze the milk down the ducts to the nipples so the baby can feed.
Placenta:
Vascular organ through which fetus receives oxygen, nutrients and antibodies to infection and excretes carbon dioxide and waste products.
Premature/Prematurity:
Delivery before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy.
Prolactin:
Milk-producing hormone released by the pituitary gland in response to a baby's sucking.
Polyhydramnios:
Abnormal condition of pregnancy characterized by excess of amniotic fluid.
Preclampsia:
Abnormal condition of pregnancy characterized by the onset of acute hypertension after the twenty-fourth week of gestation.
Preterm:
See Premature.
Selective Fetocide:
The medical destruction of one or more fetuses in a continuing pregnancy.
Selective Reduction:
See Fetal Reduction.
Singleton:
Child born from a nonmultiple pregnancy.
Stillbirth:
A baby born at 20 weeks gestation or later, who shows no sign of life.
Superfecundation:
Conception of multiples as a result of two acts of sexual intercourse in the same menstrual cycle.
Superfetation:
Conception of multiples as a result of two acts of sexual intercourse in different menstrual cycles.
Toxemia:
Hypertensive disorder of pregnancy including presence of bacterial toxins in the bloodstream; also called preclampsia.
Trizygotic:
Fetuses formed from three separate zygotes.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS):
A condition in which blood from one monozygotic twin fetus transfuses into the other fetus via blood vessels in the placenta. Can also occur among monozygotic multiples in a higher order multiple pregnancy.
VBAC:
Vaginal birth after cesarean.
Vanishing Twin Syndrome:
Unexplained loss of one multiple fetus during the first trimester, despite the survival of other(s).
Zygosity:
Describing the genetic makeup of children from a multiple birth.
Zygote:
Fertilized egg.
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