EFFECTS OF MATERNAL NUTRITION ON THE HUMAN FETUS

Abstract

In a study of 467 gestations maternal stature had little correlation with fetal growth but mother's pregravid body weight as well as weight gain and low-calorie diets during pregnancy did have such a correlation. Maternal undernutrition before the third trimester had little or no influence on fetal body, organ, and cellular growth while such effects were pronounced in late gestation. Fetal body and organ growth improved with successive pregnancies except in the most poorly nourished mothers, whose successive neonates became more growth retarded.