Is twin pregnancy more likely to result in cerebral palsy? Yes, twin pregnancies carry a higher risk of cerebral palsy compared to single pregnancies, mainly because twins often face issues like premature birth and low birth weight that can harm brain development.
Twins are more likely to be born early. About 60 percent of twins arrive before 37 weeks, and 12 percent before 32 weeks. Babies born this early have fragile brains that can suffer from lack of oxygen or bleeding, both of which raise the chance of cerebral palsy. Over half of twins weigh less than 2.5 kilograms at birth, and those born before 32 weeks often weigh under 1.6 kilograms. Low birth weight is a key risk factor for cerebral palsy, as it links to problems with vision, hearing, breathing, heart function, and brain injuries.[1]
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a childs movement, balance, and muscle tone. It happens due to brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth. Premature birth, very low birth weight, and multiple babies like twins are all listed as factors that increase the risk. Breech births, which are common in twins, add to this danger.[2]
In twin pregnancies from IVF, the risks can be even higher. IVF boosts twin chances to 25 percent from the natural 6 percent. These pregnancies often lead to preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and the need for C-sections, all of which stress the babies. Identical twins sharing a placenta face twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in 10 percent of cases, where uneven blood flow harms one or both brains.[1]
Studies on cerebral palsy causes confirm these links. Prematurity and low weight show up often in kids with the condition. Other risks like infections or bleeding during pregnancy play a role too, but multiples stand out as a clear factor.[3][2]
Recent research using MRI scans on kids with cerebral palsy found brain injuries in most cases, tied to events like preterm birth. Genetic factors mix in sometimes, but early delivery remains a top trigger, especially for twins.[4]
Sources
https://www.indiraivf.com/blog/twin-babies-ivf
https://cchp.ucsf.edu/resources/fact-sheets-families/cerebral-palsy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12748543/
https://cerebralpalsyguidance.com/2025/12/12/researchers-use-mri-to-diagnose-find-causes-of-cerebral-palsy-in-children/
