Mothers with tough childhoods have smaller babies

Women who suffered abuse in childhood are at high risk of having low birth weight babies.

It also found that poverty during childhood and substance use during adolescence and pregnancy boosts the chances of having low birth weight babies, who are at high risk for death before their first birthday and chronic health problems.

Researchers examined data from 136 mothers who had been part of a study since childhood. They found that women who suffered emotional, physical or sexual abuse or poverty in childhood were more likely to smoke, drink or use drugs during pregnancy, which increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby.

The findings suggest that a mother's economic position in childhood and her experience of maltreatment during childhood have implications for her children born years later.

What is important is that it was the mother's experience of poverty and maltreatment in childhood, not her poverty or depression or obesity in adulthood, which contributed to her infant's low birth weight.

Therefore doctors should ask prospective mothers about any childhood maltreatment and offer help to those at risk for substance abuse during pregnancy.