Towards a Healthy Baby : Congenital Disorders and the New Genetics in Primary Health Care

Doctors, midwives, and health visitors in primary care spend a considerable proportion of their time discussing issues associated with reproduction with their patients. The importance of this aspect of care is growing as advances, for example in DNA technology and ultrasound scanning, increase the amount of information that can be given to prospective parents. A couple wishing to have a child may seek advice because they are related, because there is a history of genetic disease, or because a previous child was born with a congenital malformation or genetic disorder. They may wish to understand the results of prenatal screening tests; or be apprehensive about an impending ultrasound examination or amniocentesis; or be concerned about the risk to the fetus of infections, smoking, drinking or taking medicines in early pregnancy. This book addresses all of these issues and summarizes recent advances in the understanding of congenital and genetic disorders. The authors have aimed to enable health workers in primary care to explain the relevant concepts and risks clearly to their patients.