Maternal Health professionals have recommended women expecting twins or more to make sure they get particular treatment from maternal health professionals in order to lessen the difficulties connected with multiple pregnancies. These female reproductive health professionals outlined the increased risk of premature delivery associated with twin pregnancies, as well as the numerous other hazards associated with giving birth to preterm infants. They emphasized that twin gestation is also linked to birth abnormalities and that the chances of a premature baby surviving are low, particularly if they are born before 37 weeks. Women carrying twins are urged to attend their prenatal appointments consistently and on time and to speak with their doctors about any concerns they have in order to lower the chance of preterm delivery and the issues it is connected with.
Dr. Yusuf Oshodi, an associate professor at the College of Medicine at Lagos State University, stated in a press conference that giving birth prematurely has a number of risks since the infants have a hard time adjusting to life outside the womb. One in three infants born before 37 weeks may die, according to Dr. Oshodi, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologists at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. According to the gynecologists, women who are expecting more than one child are more likely to give birth prematurely.
Women pregnant with twins have double challenges associated with pregnancy.
According to Oshodi, mothers carrying twins from the moment of conception face two times as many obstacles as those faced by mothers carrying preterm babies. In addition to experiencing twice as much stress, vomiting, and light-headedness, twin pregnancies also entail a higher risk of high blood pressure than singleton pregnancies. The likelihood of developing Diabetes during pregnancy is higher in twins than in singleton pregnancies. According to him, twin pregnancies also carry a higher risk of congenital deformities (congenital anomalies).
The gynecologist added that in addition to the previously mentioned difficulties, women might also have trouble giving birth on their own. He continued by saying that twin-carrying women also run the risk of bleeding, which he claimed could result in an early delivery. In addition, the maternal health specialist explained that premature infants have a number of issues, such as difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels. Their livers aren’t developed enough, he claimed, and as a result, infants frequently develop neonatal jaundice. They run a high chance of getting sick, having trouble eating, and having digestive issues.
Survival of babies born from multiple births depends on the age delivered.
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Dr. Bright Airhumwunde, says the survival of babies born from multiple births in Nigeria is based on the age at which they were delivered. Airhumwunde who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Crown Global Medicare remarked, “First of all, with twins, the usual delivery duration is roughly 36 to 37 weeks. It takes about 34 weeks to have triplets, and about 28 weeks to have quadruplets. Therefore, the earlier the delivery, the more fetuses there are. The timing of the babies’ deliveries ultimately determines whether they survive. Once more, the location of delivery is important.
According to him, preterm birth and infant deaths are more likely in rural areas and among mothers without access to healthcare. According to him, the absence of equipment like incubators, the need for oxygen, and specialized medications to help babies’ lungs develop make managing preterm babies in public hospitals in the nation a struggle. In order to increase the survival of preterm babies in Nigeria, he claimed that significant investments in both equipment and labour were required.
More than 400,000 babies are born dead in Nigeria annually.
Each year, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, over 400,000 babies are born dead in Nigeria. Out of the more than 2.5 million infant fatalities worldwide each year, more than 400,000 stillbirths occur in Nigeria, according to UNICEF. According to World Health Organization data, an estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely each year (before 37 completed weeks of gestation). For children under the age of five, problems from preterm delivery remain the biggest cause of death, accounting for around 1 million fatalities in 2015. According to the WHO, there are currently affordable therapies that might avert three-quarters of these deaths.
