Embryo Reduction in Multiple Pregnancies

Multifetal pregnancy decrease (MPR) is a procedure that has a goal to reduce the total number of fetuses when you have more than one fetus. This can expand your possibilities having a healthy pregnancy and help the remaining fetus or fetuses survive if you're at a high risk for complications. It's most frequently done in between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, usually after genetic testing is performed to decide whether any concerns present.

What are the reasons to consider for embryo reduction?

There are several clinical reasons why embryo reduction may be recommended:

• High risk pregnancy: Multiple pregnancies are usually considered as high risk pregnancies because of the increased likelihood of complications like preterm birth, low birth weight and developmental issues.
• Maternal health: Mother’s health might be at risk if she is having more than 1 fetuses than her body can securely support.
• Fetal health: Reducing the number of fetuses can increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy for the remaining ones if one or more of foetuses show severe abnormalities or are not developing properly.

Procedure:

During the procedure, the ultrasound is used to identify the fetuses to be reduced. A needle is then placed into the uterus, and a substance (usually potassium chloride) is injected into the selected fetus or fetuses to stop their development.

It's significant for parents facing a choice about embryo reduction to talk with a doctor who has specializes in high-risk pregnancies and to consider all pertinent clinical, emotional, and ethical factors prior to making a choice.