Problems Connected with the Birth of Male Children

Amish demography

“…This is also true of the Indiana Amish (Juberg, 1966) tions, but the Hutterites appear to be an exception (Sheps, 1965). It has been reported (Renkonen and Lehtovaara, 1962;Renkonen, 1964) that the sex of the preceding child may influence the length of the interval to the next birth, but this is not true in the Hohnes County Amish. Data from 7,108 births (excluding first births) revealed no significant difference in the length of the interval to the next birth whether the previous child was male or female.…”

The Birth of Mongoloids

“…This increase in the sex ratio (m/f) does not seem to be due to a change in the primary sex ratio because there is a (compensatory ?) decrease in the sex ratio among the stillbirths with elderly mothers (6). A change in the prim ary sex ratio should, indeed be also reflected in the sex ratio of stillbirths.…”

“…Recent analysis of prior series and some new data reveal th at the composition of the previous sibship (6,7) and the order (7, Table I) in which the previous boys and girls were born are also relevant for the forecast. Regularities in the composition of the previous subship (7), differences in time intervals between the successive children (12,6) and the increasing sex ratios (in/f) among stillbirths with increasing birth order (5) m ay be ex plained on the basis of the m others' altered reactivity against her male fetuses. After the birth of few boys the reactivity of a fraction of the mothers seems to increase (13,6).…”

“…Regularities in the composition of the previous subship (7), differences in time intervals between the successive children (12,6) and the increasing sex ratios (in/f) among stillbirths with increasing birth order (5) m ay be ex plained on the basis of the m others' altered reactivity against her male fetuses. After the birth of few boys the reactivity of a fraction of the mothers seems to increase (13,6). Some of our argum ents and interpretations have been criticized by Edwards.…”

“…Three observations merit dis cussion: 1. According to 'J'akahaslii there is a definite preponderance of boys among children born to aged Japanese women (15,6). 2.…”