The Objective of infertility treatment should be the birth of a single healthy child. Many couples view multiple gestation as desirable because they are unaware of the risks on both mother and baby.
Such risks are:

• Preterm birth in 50% of twin and 90% of triplet pregnancies.
• A triplet is 20 times more likely to die in first month of life.
• Premature babies have more risk of respiratory diseases, brain hemorrhage, blindness and cerebral palsy.
• Congenital anomalies, miscarriages and intrauterine fetal deaths are more common in twins and triplets.
• Pre-eclampsia occurs 5 times more in multiple pregnancies.
• Maternal hemorrhage is more common in twins and triplets.
• Gestational diabetes is more common.

Take home message: Ask your doctor to transfer only one or two embryos in IVF.