Search

. The relationship between maternal health and intrauterine growth of the foetus was studied. A prospective method of study was used and the series included 11 417 pregnant women. All infants of low birth weight and a subgroup of growth retarded infants were compared with a control group of normal weight infants. It became evident that the characteristics and complications of pregnancies resulting in infants of low birth weight differed from those of a control series. It was also apparent that pregnancies resulting in growth retarded infants differed from controls in other respects than those resulting in premature infants as a whole. In studying the causes of prematurity and in the clinical handling of the premature infants it is of utmost importance to be aware of the different categories of infants of low birth weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]