An Assessment and Postnatal Cost Analysis of Multiple Pregnancies after Assisted Reproductive Techniques

Aim: In this study, we aimed to assess newborns from multiple pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques and to perform a postnatal cost analysis for those who were interned in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Materials and Methods: A total of 123 newborns from multiple pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques who were followed up in our hospital were included. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in twin and triplet distributions and infant gender distributions when the newborns were divided into those who were interned in NICU and those who were not (p=0.056; p=0.77). Mean gestational age, birth weight, height, and head circumference were found statistically significantly lower for those who were interned (p=0.0001). There was no significant difference between the infertility treatments performed for the NICU-interned and non-NICU-interned groups (p=0.036). The cost of treatment for those who were followed up in NICU was calculated to be 114,000.00 (min. 248, max. 229,375.0) TL. Discussion and Conclusion: In multiple pregnancies after assisted reproductive techniques, prematurity and low birth weight are risk factors that cannot be neglected, leading to significantly increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. Elective single embryo transfer appears to be a more appropriate approach for preventing these outcomes