Birth weights and stillbirths in historical perspective

Abstract

Data on birth weights and the percentage of stillborn babies during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, taken from hospitals records in Edinburgh, Vienna, Dublin, Boston, Montreal and Philadelphia reflect the social class and living standard of their patients as well as socio-economic developments in these cities. To the extent that these hospital records also contained information on the mother's age, parity, occupation, ethnic and religious background, marital status and gender of the child, some inferences can be made on influences on intrauterine growth and birth outcome.