Prenatal starvation and maternal blood pressure near delivery.

Maternities in cities exposed to the Dutch famine of 1944 to 1945 and in control cities were compared. Systolic blood pressure near the time of delivery was significantly reduced by exposure to famine late in the 2nd trimester and early in the 3rd trimester. Blood pressure correlated best with caloric rations in the 3rd month before delivery, and this relationship holds consistently below a ration level of 1900 cal. Above 1900 cal and up to 2200 cal (the upper limit of rations for the data analyzed) the relationship is inconsistent across cities. Edema, analyzed in one city, varied in a manner similar to blood pressure.