A new clinic recently inaugurated at Rambam Health Care Campus, which serves as a one-stop-shop for all the unique monitoring and testing needed by women pregnant with twins.
Being pregnant with twins is exciting and special, but at the same time, it requires more frequent, expert monitoring of fetal development that is far more extensive than for regular pregnancies.
In recent years, more and more women are becoming pregnant with multiples due to the proliferation of fertility treatments in Israel. However, identical twin pregnancies remain a relatively uncommon condition, occurring spontaneously only once out of every 250 pregnancies.
“Identical twin pregnancies occur when one fertilized egg divides into two, resulting in two fetuses,” explains Professor Ron Beloosesky, Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Unit in Rambam's Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Identical twins generally share one placenta and have the exact same genetic makeup. These pregnancies occur spontaneously, regardless of heredity or fertility treatments. This is considered a high-risk pregnancy like any twin pregnancy, but with a probability of complications that is 20-25% higher, due to the nature of the pregnancy.”
As mentioned, identical twin pregnancies require special monitoring of fetal development as well as of the different stages of pregnancy in a far more extensive manner than is required for normal pregnancies. “There are doctors who specialize in monitoring twin pregnancies,” notes Professor Beloosesky. “Rambam employs some of the best specialists in the field. They have launched a dedicated clinic for the benefit of women carrying such pregnancies so that they can receive all of the necessary services under one roof. This is one of our clear advantages as a large medical center that allows for a broad diagnostic and therapeutic vision.”
The staff of the new clinic consists of specialists in the unit headed by Professor Beloosesky, specialists in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) Outpatient Clinics headed by Dr. Dana Vitner, and other experts in Rambam's Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The services being offered in the new clinic include frequent sonograms throughout the pregnancy, monitoring and counseling by the high-risk pregnancy clinic, as well as nuchal scans, level II ultrasounds, and amniocentesis. One of the main tests performed in the new clinic is an examination of the blood flow of the fetuses and placenta. The test is performed once every two weeks, starting from the 16th week of pregnancy, to identify possible complications in the early stages.
“At Rambam, we understand that not every pregnancy is the same and there are situations that require a unique vision,” concludes Professor Beloosesky. “I call on women who are pregnant with identical twins to contact us so that they can receive the pregnancy care that suits their needs.”