Conception to birth : epidemiology of prenatal development

This book provides the first systematic and in-depth epidemiological treatment of prenatal development, from fertilization through gestation. It lays the groundwork for causal thinking about prenatal development by discussing criteria for evaluating observed associations between teratogens and developmental outcomes. It maps development epidemiologically, dealing with the probabilities of conception and early loss, the relation between miscarriage and chromosome abnormalities, and the quesitons of recurrence and environmental influences on pregnancy loss. The discussion of foetal growth distinguishes between preterm delivery, retarded growth, and immaturity. Indices for measuring growth are analyzed. The predominant maternal and enviornmental influcnes on prenatal growth and birth weight are reconciled with the genetic contribution to postnatal growth. Finally, the book examines the major issues of maternal age and parity and addresses the public health challenge of monitoring and surveillance.

• Part 1 Disorders of development: weighing the evidence for environmental causes: Criteria for Teratogenesis: I. Time order, strength, consistency
• Criteria for Teratogenesis: II. Specificity
• Criteria for Teratogensis: III. Coherence
• Part 2 Conception and early gestation: Conception and reproductive loss: Probabilities
• Developmental abnormalities: Frequency measures
• Developmental abnormalities: Frequencies observed
• Karyotypes at miscarriage: Variations and regularities
• Environmental factors, miscarriage and karyotypes
• The recurrence of miscarriage and chromosomal aberrations
• Part 3 Later gestation: The separation of entities: Preterm delivery, low birth weight and maturity
• Preterm delivery: I. Indices and enumeration
• Preterm delivery: II. Risk factors
• Fetal growth and birth weight: I. Indices and risks
• Fetal growth and birth weight: II. Norms and thresholds
• The family factor in birth weight
• Maternity and birth in less developed countries
• Part 4 Age and parity: Aging and reproduction: I. Conception to birth
• Ageing and reproduction: II. Trisomy
• Pregnancy number problems of analysis
• Part 5 The physical environment, reproduction and surveillance: Surveillance of reproductive outcomes: I. Keeping watch
• Surveillance of reproductive outcomes: II. Following leads.