National Maternal and Infant Health Survey, 1988

This survey was designed to explore factors that cause negative pregnancy outcomes. Questions were asked of pregnant women concerning prenatal care, weight gain or loss during pregnancy, alcohol, cigarette, or drug use during pregnancy, and whether vitamin or mineral supplements were taken before or during pregnancy. In addition, questions were asked about the use of home pregnancy tests, exercise before and during pregnancy, medical care before, during, and after delivery, previous pregnancies and their outcomes, birth control use, and how the mother felt and behaved. Demographic information about the mother such as marital status, marital history, date of birth, state of birth, mother's weight at birth, weight changes before, during, and after pregnancy, height, race, education, work history, and place of residence was obtained. Information about the father includes items such as age, height, weight, education, and job status. In addition, family income questions were asked, as were questions about the health, care, and feeding of the baby. Information was also taken from birth certificates and fetal and infant death certificates.