Birth management and fetal outcome in multiple gestation: analysis of 1.444 births

Since the late 1990s, controversies came up concerning the mode of delivery for multiples births. The twin birth study indicated no difference in maternal and fetal outcome between planned vaginal delivery and planned caesarean section, but did not analyze the influence of maternal and fetal characteristics or the obstetric management in vaginal birth. The purpose of this study is to analyze these parameters regarding fetal outcome. A large-scale retrospective analysis of twin births (n = 1.444) was performed at a university medical center. The analysis included pregnancy, delivery, and maternal and fetal parameters, including pH and base excess (BE) differences between the first- and second-born twin (delta pH, delta BE). Delta pH correlated significantly with the birth interval for various positions of twins in the womb (p