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QuickStats

From the National Center for Health Statistics

Rate* of Triplet and Higher Order Births, by Age Group of Mother --- United States, 1980--2006

Triplet and higher order births have greater risk for preterm birth, low birthweight, and infant mortality than singleton and twin births. The rate of triplet and higher order births increased approximately 400% overall from 1980 to 1998, with the greatest increases among mothers aged 25--39 years and ≥40 years. After peaking in 1998 at 193.5 per 100,000 live births, the overall rate decreased to 153.3 in 2006. This decrease largely resulted from a decrease in the rate among mothers aged 25--39 years, from 276.9 per 100,000 live births in 1998 to 207.8 in 2006. During this period, the rate for mothers aged ≥40 years also declined.

* Per 100,000 live births.

Triplet and higher order births have greater risk for preterm birth, low birthweight, and infant mortality than singleton and twin births. The rate of triplet and higher order births increased approximately 400% overall from 1980 to 1998, with the greatest increases among mothers aged 25--39 years and ≥40 years. After peaking in 1998 at 193.5 per 100,000 live births, the overall rate decreased to 153.3 in 2006. This decrease largely resulted from a decrease in the rate among mothers aged 25--39 years, from 276.9 per 100,000 live births in 1998 to 207.8 in 2006. During this period, the rate for mothers aged ≥40 years also declined.

SOURCE: Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, et al. Births: final data for 2006. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2009;57(7). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr57/nvsr57_07.pdf.

The figure above shows the rate of births, triplet and higher, by age group of mothers in the United States, during 1980 through 2006, based on data from the 2009 National Vital Statistics Report for that period.

The rate of triplet and higher births tripled overall from 1980 to 1998, with the greatest increases among mothers aged 25–39 years and >40 years.

After peaking in 1998 at 193.5 per 100,000 live births, the overall rate decreased to 153.3 in 2006. This decrease largely resulted from a decrease in the rate among mothers aged 25–39 years from 276.9 per 100,000 live births in 1998 to 207.8 in 2006.

The rate for mothers aged >40 years also declined.

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Date last reviewed: 4/30/2009

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