80% twincrease
THE rate of twin births in Ireland has nearly doubled over the past 30 years due to IVF treatment, experts said yesterday.
Figures from the CSO show there has been an 80% increase from 10.5 per 1,000 in 1985 to 18.6 in 2015.
UCD’S Professor Michael Turner said the main reason for the spike is the increase in multiple pregnancies following Assisted Reproduction or IVF in Ireland.
He said: “Unfortunately IVF in Ireland remains unregulated.
“In other countries they promote Single Embryo Transfers especially in Scandinavian countries to minimise multiple pregnancies.
“The increase in multiple births in IVF units does put pressure on the Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the big four maternity hospitals because multiple births are strongly associated with preterm delivery.”
The most recent Irish Maternity Indicator System report for 2015 said six hospitals have recorded multiple births above the national average – with assisted reproduction linked to the increase in five of the hospitals. The report said: “Multiple births may require more complex management [increased incidence of premature births and low birth weights, increase in mortality and morbidity for both mother and babies], which may lead to increased service demands.”
Globally nearly one in every Twin boys 100 deliveries is a twin birth while triplet, quadruplet and higher order deliveries occur only once in 10,000 procedures.
The numbers of identical twins tend to remain constant worldwide but fraternal twins around the world.
The Irish Multiple Births Association, which is run on a voluntary basis by the parents, provide practical support and advice to families with multiples in Ireland. A spokesman said: “The increased child benefit available to parents of multiples is extremely important in supporting families.
“In cases of higher order multiples such as triplets and quadruplets it would be wonderful to see more home help available from the HSE. “Particularly in cases where a mother may be unwell post birth and need extra recovery time whilst her partner has to return to work.” figures for fluctuates
per 100 births were twins in 2015. In 1985 it was 10.5 per 100