MILESTONE
What is this project about?
Multiple pregnancy: An investigation of the risk factors and outcomes in the Republic of Ireland (The MILESTONE study)
Twins accounted for 1.8% of all births in Ireland in 2019 and the twinning rate was 17.8 per 1,000 maternities. There has been no significant change in the rate of multiple pregnancies in Ireland since 2012. Twin pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of maternal complications such as hypertensive disorders, and they contribute to an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality, thereby causing significant resource implications for both healthcare providers and maternity services. Given the increased risk associated with twin pregnancies there is a need for evidenced-based and up-to-date recommendations for clinical care
The Milestone study is a doctoral research project funded by the Irish Research Council (IRC). The overall aim of this PhD is to identify the risk factors and outcomes for those who experience twin pregnancies in the Republic of Ireland, to evaluate clinical practice guidelines, and to identify the specific service needs of this group, to inform future developments and help improve the quality of care within the maternity services.
What is involved in this project?
- Systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for the antenatal management of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin pregnancy
- Secondary analysis of perinatal mortality within the twin population in the Republic of Ireland and identification of the associated maternal and care-related risk factors
- Secondary analysis of the neonatal outcomes of very low birth weight twin pregnancies in the Republic of Ireland
- Qualitative study examining the experiences of women with dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies in Irish maternity services to inform future developments and help improve the quality of care within the maternity services
- A national service evaluation of the provision of antenatal care to dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies and establish if the care provided is in line with national and international recommendations
- Development of a dichorionic diamniotic clinical practice guideline.
Who is involved?
Project team
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Caroline O'Connor | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | PhD Student |
| Professor Keelin O'Donoghue | Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Primary Supervisor |
| Dr Sara Leitao | National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, UCC; Pregnancy Loss Research Group | Secondary Co-supervisor |
Collaborators
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Dr Ann Twomey | |
| Dr Paul Corcoran | National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre, UCC |
| Dr Emily O'Connor | Pregnancy Loss Research Group |
| Sinead Harkin | Pregnancy Loss Research Group |
Dissemination activities
Journal articles
- O'Connor C, Leitao S, O'Donoghue K. A protocol for a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines for the antenatal management of dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy [version 1; peer review: 1 approved]. HRB Open Research. 2021;4:115. https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13418.1.
- O’Connor C, O’Connor E, Leitao S, Barrett S, O'Donoghue K. Clinical practice guidelines for the antenatal management of dichorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2023;23:347. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05652-z.
- O'Connor C, Leitao S, Corcoran P, O'Donoghue K. Perinatal deaths in twin and singleton infants in Ireland: A comparison of characteristics and causes. Irish Journal of Medical Science. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-024-03829-9.
News items
- INFANT (2022, July 13) INFANT PhD Profile: Caroline O'Connor's work to improve and standardise the care of twin pregnancies. https://www.infantcentre.ie/2022/07/13/infant-phd-profile-caroline-oconnors-work-to-improve-and-standardize-the-care-of-twin-pregnancies/.
Project status
Ongoing: January 2021 to December 2024
Further information
Please email Caroline O’Connor: carolineoconnor@ucc.ie
Funders
MILESTONE is funded by the Irish Research Council: Government of Ireland Postgraduate Award [GOIPG/2020/928].