This study finds that early exposure to state midwifery licensing laws in the early 1900s improved health later in life. Children born after these laws took effect lived 0.6 months longer on average and had 2.5% lower mortality in adulthood. The longevity boost was strongest for Black Americans and slightly more pronounced among men. Researchers link the improvements to better early-life care and hygiene practices, as well as long-term gains in education, income, and even height—highlighting how regulating birth practices can have ripple effects across generations.