Pandemic Babies: Medical Care Delays in Utero and Infant Birth Outcomes

This paper investigates the impact of medical care delays on infant and maternal health by leveraging Medical Procedure Delay Orders (MPDOs) issued by over 30 U.S. states at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzing a large national claims dataset. I find that in utero exposure to MPDOs increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with newborn disorders related to adverse birth outcomes by 13%. Women exposed to MPDOs during pregnancy-particularly in the first and second trimesters-experience delays in critical prenatal care, such as ultrasounds and the detection of gestational health conditions. These disruptions likely contribute to the observed increase in adverse birth outcomes. The findings highlight the intergenerational and long-term consequences of interrupted maternal care.