THE POSTMATURE BABY

Abstract

Abstract Of the 4,106 firstborn infants, 832 were white and 3,274 Negro. The incidence of postmaturity in the white group was 9 per cent and in the Negro group, 6 per cent. The perinatal mortality rate in the mature white group was 1.4 per cent; in the postmature white group, 1.3 per cent. The perinatal mortality rate in the mature Negro group was 2.3 per cent; in the postmature Negro group, 3.1 per cent. Two small babies died of malnutrition and anoxia during labor. The placenta of each showed changes which might have been attributed to aging. There were 5 per cent fewer small babies (2,500 grams) in the postmature white group than in the mature white group. There were 6 per cent fewer small babies in the postmature Negro group than in the mature Negro group. In the mature white group the largest number of babies fell into the 3,200 gram division. This was also the largest division in the postmature white group. There was a 1 per cent increase in 3,200 gram babies and a 10 per cent increase in babies weighing 3,700 grams and over in the postmature white group over the mature white group. In the mature Negro group the largest number of babies fell into the 2,700 gram division, while in the postmature Negro group the largest number fell into the 3,200 gram division. There was a 13 per cent increase in 3,200 gram babies and a 3 per cent increase in babies who weighted 3,700 grams and over in the postmature Negro group over the mature Negro group. From a study of “The Larger Babies Born at the Chicago Maternity Center,” the incidence of postmaturity for large babies (4,500 grams and over) born of mothers of all races and parities is 7 per cent greater than for averagesized babies (3,200 grams). The same increase in the incidence of postmaturity is found for large firstborn babies over average-sized firstborn children. Twenty-seven per cent of white premature babies classified by weight fall into the mature group when classified by gestational age. Twenty-eight per cent of mature babies classified by weight fall into the premature group when classified by gestational age.