Abstract

Summary. Data from the 1970 British Births survey were used to compare 1380 births conceived before marriage (women who were delivered less than 6 months after marriage) with 13845 births to women who had been married for at least 6 months before delivery. Infants in the premarital conception group were at increased risk because of maternal youth, primiparity and maternal health behaviour such as smoking. Once these factors had been taken into account there was no residual risk of perinatal death or low birthweight. There was a slight excess of preterm deliveries.