Preterm labour in twin pregnancies: can it be prevented by hospital admission?

Abstract

Summary. Women attending a twin pregnancy antenatal clinic underwent cervical palpation to calculate a cervical score by subtracting dilatation from length. Those with a score of −2 or less at or before 34 weeks are at especially high risk of preterm labour. A total of 139 such women were randomly allocated either to receive bed‐rest in hospital or to continue conventional outpatient management. No beneficial effect of bed‐rest could be identified in prolonging twin pregnancy or improving fetal outcome.