[Reproduction-related mortality in earlier centuries]

Before an effective obstetrics maternal mortality has to be estimated with 1-2 per cent and stillbirth-rate with about 5 per cent. 8-10 per cent of all lifeborn babies died during puerperium of their mothers. Development of obstetrics primarily caused a decreasing maternal mortality, which can be proved in the nineteenth century. After that perinatal losses could be reduced, too.