The Dutch Famine, 1944–1945, and the Reproductive Process. I. Effects on Six Indices at Birth

Extract: Prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine of 1944-1945 reduced postpartum maternal weight, birth weight, placental weight, length at birth, and head circumference at birth. These conclusions are based on maternities occurring in the famine area and exposed to famine during some part of gestation as compared both with maternities in nonfamine areas, and with maternities before and after the famine. Third trimester exposure accounted for the whole of the famine effects. Length of gestation was not affected by third trimester exposure, and did not mediate the effects on infant dimensions at birth. Effects were apparent only below a threshold value of official food rations of 1,500 cal daily average during the third trimester. (Calorie value for official food rations can be assumed to be lower than actual food intake.) Maternal weight declined 4.3% during the famine and rose 10.5% after the famine. Birth weight declined 9% during the famine, and rose 9% after the famine. Placental weight declined 15% during the famine, and rose 14% after the famine. Length at birth declined 2.5% during the famine, and rose 1.5% after the famine. Head circumference declined 2.7% during the famine, and rose 2.4% afterward.Speculation: The Dutch famine experience is analogous to animal experiments in which severe early nutritional deprivation slows fetal growth, including the head, and perhaps causes brain cell depletion.