Summary
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the inter-twin delivery interval on neonatal haemoglobin concentration. We retrospectively analysed 108 twin deliveries over a 5-year period. Chorionicity was determined by first trimester ultrasound or placental histopathology. The mode of delivery, time of delivery and cord/neonatal blood counts were recorded. A total of 88 sets of dichorionic and 20 sets of monochorionic twins were studied. There was no correlation between inter-twin delivery interval and haemoglobin difference (rho = 0.020, p = 0.857). In monochorionic twin pregnancies, there was a trend towards increasing inter-twin hemoglobin differences with prolonged delivery intervals. However, this trend did not reach statistical significance (rho = −0.303, p = 0.193). In monochorionic twins, there is a trend towards a lower haemoglobin concentration in the twin delivered second. This haemoglobin deficit appears to be related to the inter-twin delivery interval.