Mehrgeburten

Mehrgeburten, a German term, refers to multiple births, meaning the delivery of more than one baby from a single pregnancy. This can include twins, triplets, quadruplets, and so on. The incidence of multiple births has seen an increase in recent decades, particularly in developed countries. This rise is often attributed to factors such as the increased use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and advanced maternal age.

There are two main types of multiple births: identical (monozygotic) twins and fraternal (dizygotic) twins. Identical twins develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos, resulting in genetically identical individuals. Fraternal twins develop from two separate eggs fertilized by two separate sperm, meaning they are as genetically similar as any other siblings. Higher-order multiples can be a combination of these types.

Multiple pregnancies carry higher risks for both the mother and the babies compared to singleton pregnancies. These risks can include premature birth, low birth weight, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and the need for cesarean section. The development and care of multiple infants also present unique challenges for parents. While the term "Mehrgeburten" is German, the phenomenon of multiple births is universal and studied across various medical and scientific disciplines.