If you were born very preterm or underweight, you may have fewer kids later in life

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-03-20 02:00

Australia; International; VIC

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After they hit 30, people who were born very preterm or with a very low birth weight tend to have fewer kids than people who were carried to term and born at a normal weight, according to international researchers, including an Australian. The team compared how many kids 212 people born very preterm or with a very low birth weight had with how many kids 202 people who had a normal birth had, before and after age 30. Before hitting 30, there was no difference between the groups, but after 30, those born very preterm or underweight had fewer kids than those born normally, the scientists say. However, whether or not people were married or living with a partner was the most important factor in determining whether people had kids at any age, the researchers say.