Timing of prenatal starvation in women and birth weight in the first and second born offspring: the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort study

This study examined the long-term effects of severe intrauterine maternal under-nutrition on offspring birth weight. 575 first born and 454 second born children of 683 women were analysed at the time of a severe famine just after the second World War. Compared to controls, birth weights of first born infants of women prenatally exposed in the first trimester of pregnancy were 73g lighter. Birth weights of infants of women exposed in the second and third trimester were much closer to controls. The authors conclude that severe low birth weight (200g or more below normal) as a result of maternal under-nutrition can be ruled out. There may, however, be parity specific, moderate (50-100g) effects of maternal under-nutrition early in pregnancy on offspring birth weight. This suggestion requires confirmation in other populations.