I was uninsured with no prenatal care for months. A low-cost Catholic program accepted me in the 8th month. I wasn’t eating well, either. They were concerned that I was underweight. Yet, I gave birth to a big healthy baby. No pregnancy complications whatsoever.
If only we knew the causes of death... The article gives a few anecdotes that tell us nothing about all the other women.
These young women weren’t underweight for the most part, and some were even overweight. But they were definitely malnourished. Several even had the really bad teeth and hair that you see with malnutrition. Their babies - even measured in utero - were going to be low birth weight, which is riskier in terms of survival and also in terms of future development. Having a nice plump baby as you did is wonderful!
The girls probably never took a single one of the prenatal vitamins the program gave them and they sure didn’t take up home cooking! It was sad, because they didn’t seem to have much in the way of support from any older family members or even any happy memories of food (Thanksgiving or other holidays, birthdays, etc.). Food was just their potato chips and soft drinks and occasional KFC.
I think the program was an attempt to break that cycle but it wasn’t successful, for the most part. But you never know…all you can do is try your best and hope for the best.