Which term refers to a pregnancy with three or more fetuses in utero?

Which term refers to a pregnancy with three or more fetuses in utero?

• A. High-order births
• B. Hydrsalpinx
• C. High-order multiple gestation
• D. Hatching

Answer: (C)

Understanding pregnancies with more than one fetus starts with the term multiple gestation, which covers any pregnancy involving more than one developing fetus. When three or more fetuses are involved, the specific descriptor is high-order multiple gestation. This distinction matters because it pinpoints the number of fetuses: twins are a regular multiple gestation, while three or more—the high-order category—signals a more complex and higher-risk situation. The other options don’t describe fetal count: hydrosalpinx is a fluid-filled blockage of a fallopian tube, not about how many fetuses are present; hatching refers to a developmental stage of an embryo, not the number of fetuses; and high-order births isn’t the standard medical term used for describing the count of fetuses in utero.

Understanding pregnancies with more than one fetus starts with the term multiple gestation, which covers any pregnancy involving more than one developing fetus. When three or more fetuses are involved, the specific descriptor is high-order multiple gestation. This distinction matters because it pinpoints the number of fetuses: twins are a regular multiple gestation, while three or more—the high-order category—signals a more complex and higher-risk situation. The other options don’t describe fetal count: hydrosalpinx is a fluid-filled blockage of a fallopian tube, not about how many fetuses are present; hatching refers to a developmental stage of an embryo, not the number of fetuses; and high-order births isn’t the standard medical term used for describing the count of fetuses in utero.