This new SpringerBrief in Physiology explores the newest research findings on how exercise influences the fetus in utero and beyond. "Physiology of Prenatal Exercise and Fetal Development" reviews the current findings of how maternal exercise throughout gestation influences fetal development of key organ systems, and also encompasses the relationship between maternal activity level and fetal, birth, and neonatal effects. This information will help researchers and scientists better understand the physiological effects of exercise during pregnancy on offspring development."

In recent years, increasing attention and resources have been brought to bear on the relationship between the environment and congenital diseases. These diseases were previously thought to be mostly due to genetic causes. Even though the importance of genes as factors in causation is accepted, environmental factors seem to be implicated just as strongly. This book explores some further concepts that have arisen from more recent perceptions of environmental effects and their possible interactions with living systems. Amongst the topics discussed are:

-effects of prenatal exposure to toxic chemicals

-intra-uterine exposure to drugs

-effects of endocrine disrupters

-environmental risk and sex ratio in newborns

-surveillance of environmental impact

-research and policy

Discussion and presentation of old and novel ideas is targeted at developing a more holistic and united perception of the interaction between congenital diseases and the environment.

This is an easy-to-use handbook written for the clinician and other healthcare professionals who treat and counsel pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. The authors provide historical perspective and background to support recommendations which are provided in each chapter. Importantly for the practitioners, recommendations and guidelines have been summarized and provided in tables that are easy to locate and interpret. This book discusses relevant topics in the scientific community such as determining to what extent prenatal and perinatal environmental factors are linked to childhood and adult obesity and chronic diseases.

Congenital malformations are worldwide occurrences striking in every condition of society. These severe physical abnormalities which are present at birth and affecting every part of the body happen more often than usually realized, once in every 33 births. The most common, after heart defects, are those of the neural tube (the brain and spinal cord) which happen in as many as one in every 350 births. They have been noted as curiousities in man and beast throughout recorded history and received great attention in our time by various fields of study, for example, their faulty prenatal development by embryologists, familial patterns by geneticists, causation by environmentalists and variability by population scientists.

Attention turned much in recent years to the relation of these malformations to deficiency of a particular dietary ingredient, folic acid, a subject this book analyzes in depth. The greatest conundrum of all, which this latest matter like so much else hinges on, is the amazing fact of the tremendous, almost universal decrease in the frequency of these anomalies since early in the 20th century. The puzzle is 'What can this downward trend possibly mean?' and at bottom 'Whether it is part of a long-term cyclical pattern'. This fascinating biological phenomenon is explored in the book together with various other topics.

There are many changes in the skin, hair, and nails during and after pregnancy. Patients are certainly aware that those changes are occurring, but few physicians and even fewer patients know how to predict the course of those changes. Pigmentary changes occur, but are they permanent? Can they be prevented or reversed? Hair may become thicker during pregnancy, only to fall out in the postpartum period. When will hair stop falling out? Will it grow back? What hormonal changes are occurring to produce these effects on the skin, hair, and nails? Will those hormonal changes affect other organs? Some cutaneous manifestations of pregnancy are common and recognized by most physicians. Abdominal striae, for example, are easily identified, but physicians have many questions about them. Why do they develop? Can they be prevented or treated? Other cutaneous manifestations of pregnancy are less common and recognized by few. For example, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy is a debilitating condition that is treatable once diagnosed. Even more important than the treatment, the knowledge imparted to a worried mother that her child will be fine and that the condition is se- limited is priceless; but the condition must first be recognized by the patient's physician. All of these questions and conditions are addressed in this extraordinary book. Pigm- tary disorders are addressed in detail in Chap. 2.

presented in the Introduction (Chapter 1). The focus of Chapter 1 is twofold: (1) to present the research foundations for the psychophysiological correlates of prenatal psychosocial adaptation and the seven prenatal personality dimensions with progress in labor and birth outcomes, and particularly (2) to present the theory underlying the seven dimensions of prenatal psychosocial adaptation, which are further analyzed in the following seven chapters. Chapters 2-8 present a content analysis of the interview responses to the seven significant prenatal personality dimensions that are predictive of pregnancy adap- tion, progress in labor, birth outcomes, and postpartum maternal psychosocial adaptation, and they include: (1) Acceptance of Pregnancy, (2) Identification with a Motherhood Role, (3) Relationship with Mother, (4) Relationship with Husband, (5) Preparation for Labor, (6) (Prenatal) Fear of Pain, Helplessness, and Loss of Control in Labor, and (7) (Prenatal) Fear of Loss of Self-Esteem in Labor. There is no other comparable comprehensive, in-depth, prenatal personality research or empirical and content analysis of pregnancy-specific dimensions of maternal psychosocial adaptation to pregnancy.

Prominent scientists from perinatal medicine, paediatrics, psychology and sociology will meet in Modena, Italy to explore birth as a complex psychological experience for mother, father and child. The proceedings of this interdisciplinary congress are here published in English to reach the broadest possible scientific audience. The goal is to create a dialogue between humanistic and medical perspectives with regard to conception, pregnancy and birth in an era of rapid biotechnological progress, taking different social and cultural contexts into account.

This volume examines the role of steroids and peptides in the regulation of pregnancy and pregnancy outcome, and their long-term effects including possible influences on adult-onset diseases. During pregnancy the placenta acts as a central regulator and coordinator of maternal and fetal physiology, and the onset of labor, through its production and regulation of steroids and peptides. Perturbations to this regulatory system can result in poor pregnancy outcome, such as preterm birth and low birth weight. These in turn are linked to diseases in later life. Intriguingly, many of these regulatory actions of steroids and peptides also occur in the brain. The induction and suppression of peptides by steroids appears to be key to regulatory function in both brain and placenta. These various interweaving strands, linking basic science with obstetrics, are all reviewed in depth here producing a fascinating account of an important area of materno-fetal medicine.

Fetal and Neonatal Secrets by Drs. Richard Polin and Alan Spitzer, uses the success formula of the highly popular Secrets Series to offer fast answers to the most essential clinical questions in fetal and neonatal medicine. With its user-friendly Q&A format, practical tips from neonatologists and fetal medicine experts, and "Key Points" boxes, this portable and easy-to-read medical reference book provides rapid access to the practical knowledge you need to succeed both in practice and on board and recertification exams. "Fetal and Neonatal Secrets is a book with an alternative setup that offers answers to a wide spectrum of clinical questions in the field of fetal and neonatal medicine. The book covers both fetal and neonatal medicine, and could be relevant for junior doctors aiming to become obstetricians or pediatricians." Reviewed by: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, January 2015 Get the evidence-based guidance you need to provide optimal care for your fetal and neonatal patients. Zero in on key fetal and neonatal information with a question and answer format, bulleted lists, mnemonics, and practical tips from the authors. Enhance your reference power with a two-color page layout, "Key Points" boxes, and lists of useful websites. Review essential material efficiently with the "Top 100 Secrets in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine" - perfect for last-minute study or self-assessment. Apply all the latest pediatric advances in clinical fetal neonatology techniques, technology, and pharmacology

Within 10 chapters this book addresses the whole gamut of questions that may arise in the context of pregnancy resulting from assisted reproduction. Incidence of abortion, extrauterine pregnancy or chromosomal abnormalities, pregnancy complications, problems regarding mode of delivery and the health status of children at birth are covered as well as the further development of the children and the social structure of the families. Topics such as follow-up of families in lesbian relationships and following gamete donations are also discussed.

This open access edited book brings together new research on the mechanisms by which maternal and reproductive health policies are formed and implemented in diverse locales around the world, from global policy spaces to sites of practice. The authors - both internationally respected anthropologists and new voices - demonstrate the value of ethnography and the utility of reproduction as a lens through which to generate rich insights into professionals' and lay people's intimate encounters with policy. Authors look closely at core policy debates in the history of global maternal health across six different continents, including: Women's use of misoprostol for abortion in Burkina Faso The place of traditional birth attendants in global maternal health Donor-driven maternal health programs in Tanzania Efforts to integrate qualitative evidence in WHO maternal and child health policy-making Anthropologies of Global Maternal and Reproductive Health will engage readers interested in critical conversations about global health policy today. The broad range of foci makes it a valuable resource for teaching in medical anthropology, anthropology of reproduction, and interdisciplinary global health programs. The book will also find readership amongst critical public health scholars, health policy and systems researchers, and global public health practitioners.

This open access edited book brings together new research on the mechanisms by which maternal and reproductive health policies are formed and implemented in diverse locales around the world, from global policy spaces to sites of practice. The authors - both internationally respected anthropologists and new voices - demonstrate the value of ethnography and the utility of reproduction as a lens through which to generate rich insights into professionals' and lay people's intimate encounters with policy. Authors look closely at core policy debates in the history of global maternal health across six different continents, including: Women's use of misoprostol for abortion in Burkina Faso The place of traditional birth attendants in global maternal health Donor-driven maternal health programs in Tanzania Efforts to integrate qualitative evidence in WHO maternal and child health policy-making Anthropologies of Global Maternal and Reproductive Health will engage readers interested in critical conversations about global health policy today. The broad range of foci makes it a valuable resource for teaching in medical anthropology, anthropology of reproduction, and interdisciplinary global health programs. The book will also find readership amongst critical public health scholars, health policy and systems researchers, and global public health practitioners.

Since Roe v. Wade, there has been increasing public interest in fetuses, in part as a result of effective antiabortion propaganda and in part as a result of developments in medicine and technology. While feminists have begun to take note of the proliferation of fetal images in various media, such as medical journals, magazines, and motion pictures, few have openly addressed the problems that the emergence of the fetal subject poses for feminism.

Fetal Subjects, Feminist Positions foregrounds feminism's effort to focus on the importance of women's reproductive agency, and at the same time acknowledges the increasing significance of fetal subjects in public discourse and private experience. Essays address the public fascination with the fetal subject and its implications for abortion discourse and feminist commitment to reproductive rights in the United States. Contributors include scholars from fields as diverse as anthropology, communications, political science, sociology, and philosophy.

This timely volume provides scholars and reproductive rights activists a forum for dialogue about fetuses without conceding to a moral or political agenda that would sanctify them at women's expense.

There are relatively high rates of complications in the fetal and neonatal periods (1 in 33 fetuses born with birth defects and 1 in 10 preterm births in the US). With advances in maternal-fetal care and growing services and life-extending medical innovations in the neonatal period, more families are presenting to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and often for longer lengths of time. The growing recognition of mental health needs of families and providers in fetal care centers, NICUs, and neonatal follow-up programs has led to a quickly increasing presence of behavioral health providers in these settings. Behavioral Health Services with High-Risk Infants & Families is a practical guide for mental health clinicians working in fetal care, NICU, and neonatal follow-up care. The book provides a broad overview of common medical conditions in fetal and NICU settings (e.g., congenital anomalies, premature birth, hypoxic injury in the perinatal period), prevalence, and symptoms of behavioral health challenges, specific considerations for assessment and intervention, and cross-cutting issues to assist the clinician with optimizing behavioral health care integration with mothers, partners, babies, and families. Additionally, information about the provision of psychosocial support and education to staff is also included. The text represents a comprehensive, practical resource for behavioral health clinicians working with pregnant women, partners, infants, families, and providers in perinatal and neonatal intensive care settings. The book features de-identified case examples, trauma-informed care prompts/scripts, specific questions for assessment and intakes, key medical terms, resource guides, and reference lists.

Recurrent pregnancy loss is an emotional challenge for patients. This book offers a practical approach to office-based gynecologists and trainee gynecologists to learn how to identify the root causes and minimize the risks of further miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies. This book is part of the Gynecology in Practice Series, which aims to provide a clinical 'in the office' or 'at the bedside' guide to effective patient care for gynecologists.

Recognition of the relationship between alcohol abuse and adverse prenatal outcomes is reflected in the warning labels on every alcoholic beverage sold in the United States. Because alcohol abuse has serious consequences for both individuals and society as a whole, much research has been devoted to this problem. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome provides straightforward facts regarding the impact of alcohol consumption as it affects the development of the embryo and fetus. Surveying current research of fetal alcohol syndrome and its related problems, the book addresses the immediate effects on development at various stages. Long-term action of prenatal alcohol exposure later in life is also considered. A chapter devoted to assessing the behavior of children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol emphasizes the necessity of longitudinal studies of fetal alcohol syndrome. This important reference offers a thorough overview of a problem that cannot be ignored.

The work looks at all human aspects of new prenatal technology. It includes the view of both parents involved in making difficult decisions about their pregnancy, and clinicians and counsellors involved in diagnosis and discussion of results of investigations, as well as the view of prenatal diagnosis by society as a whole - the ethical, legal and public health aspects. As genetic and ultrasound technology is developing rapidly, it is likely that more couples, their clinicians and counsellors will be faced with complex decisions and that the debate about ethics, legal aspects and rationing of health services will increase. This book aims to lay the foundation to those debates.;This book should be of interest to ultrasonographers; midwives; genetic counsellors; doctors specialising in obstetrics; genetic nurses; genetic social workers; clinical geneticists; general practitioners; psychotherapists; public health doctors; and purchasing managers.

Birth is a sudden, traumatic transition of environments. Once the placental oxygen supply ceases, the foetus has only minutes to establish pulmonary oxygen transport, which requires not only inflation of the lungs, but also sudden and sustained changes in the lung circulation. Not long ago, research in this field was largely restricted to morphology and physiology. Now the powerful new tools of cellular and molecular biology have begun to
shed light on the physiological processes in the developing lung and its supporting vasculature.

In 22 chapters, three main sections explore lung growth and development, vascular cell growth and differentiation, and the mechanisms of hemodynamic control in the neonate; extensive illustrations give a comprehensive picture of pulmonary circulatory development. Factors controlling vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are described by the scientists who pioneered the field. Similarly, the intracellular signaling cascades that determine proliferation or growth inhibition of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells are also presented in an understandable manner. Finally, the role of
substances, such as nitric oxide and endothelin, that control the hemodynamics of the fetal and neonatal circulations are discussed in detail, particularly in relation to the changes occurring at birth.

This book will inform basic scientists as well as the clinician and student, and should be of particular interest to pediatric cardiologists, pulmonary medicine physicians, and vascular biologists.

The third volume of this successful Series brings together studies of particular relevance to the care provided by midwives for childbearing women and their families. midwifery research is essential for sound practice and is of importance as a basis for education and management. Topics in this volume include: care during pregnancy, tabour and delivery, and the post natal period midwifery education midwives responsibilities midwives careers.;The maternity services' continue to be in the public eye in the UK and the West. Debate on consumer satisfaction with the experience of pregnancy and childbirth and perinatal mortality is increasing.;This Series is intended primarily for midwives but it will be of interest to other health professionals involved in the provision of maternity care and members of social science disciplines concerned with women's health.;Sarah Robinson is Senior Research Fellow, Nursing Research Unit, King's College, London, England. Ann M Thomson is Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, School of Nursing Studies, University of Manchester and Director, Health Care Research Unit, Stockport, Tameside & Glossop College of Nursing, England.

Given the rapid increase in the worldwide incidence of gestational diabetes, the need for defining the risks and effects associated with raised glucose concentrations in pregnancy is great. Recent large studies are helping to define the risks, as well as identify the benefits of reducing glucose intolerance. Written by an esteemed list of international authors, Gestational Diabetes: Origins, Complications, and Treatment presents timely reviews relating to some of the most important aspects of gestational diabetes, specifically its causes, consequences, and treatments. Divided into five sections, the book begins with a section on metabolism in pregnancy and gestational diabetes, dealing with maternal and foetal glucose metabolism and the controversial area of what actually constitutes gestational diabetes. The next section examines risk factors and causes of gestational diabetes, including the obvious but often overlooked factors-being female and pregnant. The text also outlines environmental and genetic risk factors. The third section deals with the potential complications of gestational diabetes for both mother and offspring, considering short-term and long-term effects. The largest section in the book addresses treatments in an effort to improve the outcome for the mother and the baby. Chapters describe the nutritional approach, considered the cornerstone of treating gestational diabetes, as well as evidence for the role of exercise in its treatment and a useful strategy for treating gestational diabetes pharmacologically. The final section discusses future prospects in screening, diagnosis, prevention, pathophysiology, and treatment of gestational diabetes.

This book is an obstetric formulary, for doctors and others concerned with the medical care of pregnant women and their newborn babies. It provides specific prescribing information on the drugs necessary to the obstetric management of antenatal patients, women in labour and the puerpurium, and the newborn. It aims to be a readily available source of information for resident obstetric staff and family practitioners who undertake obstetrics. It is also intended to provide guidelines for specialist obstetricians in training their juniors in the safest and most effective ways of using drugs during pregnancy, and for midwives, nurses and pharmacists, who need to understand the drug treatment of pregnant women.;The prescribing sections of this handbook are restricted to agents of known safety and proven efficacy and as well as covering the use of drugs in pregnancy the book includes sections on the transfer of drugs into breast milk. Advice on diet, nursing care and physiotherapy are mentioned where relevant and an account of the procedures involved in providing an epidural service are included. Doses of drugs used for newborn babies are given in the last chapter.;A section on preconception counselling has been added to the second edition and the drugs included in the volume have been revised, some preparations which have become of value to obstetric practice have been added and some which have been found to have limited clinical value have been withdrawn. This edition has been adjusted so that the prescribing procedures are in line with those used in North America.

This brief explores the resurgence of the role of doulas in the child birthing process in Chinese clinical settings, as a lens to understand comparative pre- and post-natal care worldwide. The demand for doulas in China is increasing, and the rise in the use of doulas is thought to be due to increasing dissatisfaction with current institutional maternity health care. Attention is focused on Chinese women's relationships with their bodies and on women's experiences of choice, agency, and access to health and reproductive services as well as maternal health care information and support. Chapters present an overview of the current experience of pre- and post- natal care in China. In addition, chapters explore interview data on how Chinese doulas construct multiple identities, in terms of serving as lactation consultants, child care providers, and child care educators for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal Healthcare and Doulas in China will be of interest to researchers in public health and health policy, particularly with an interest in maternal health or Asian studies, as well as, health practitioners, and clinicians who are interested in issues related to women, maternity, health care, childbirth, and feminist research in China.

At the cutting-edge of maternal and neonatal management and research, this reference presents the most recent advances in fetal DNA/RNA, embryoscopy/fetoscopy, open fetal surgery, and ethnic population screening to manage pre-existing and newly detected maternal medical complications, detect genetic and congenital abnormalities, prevent preterm births, and optimize pregnancy outcomes. With illustrative color photographs, this source offers contributions by esteemed professionals at respected institutions around the globe and covers legal issues concerning prenatal assessment and diagnosis.

Ultrasound is the main diagnostic tool in the prenatal detection of congenital abnormalities. The Fetal Medicine Foundation has recognized the importance of this tool by setting up a program of training and certification to help establish high standards of scanning on an international scale. Diagnosis of Fetal Abnormalities: The 18-23-Week Scan provides the basis of learning for the theoretical component of this program. The book is a complete, authoritative clinician's textbook on using ultrasound in the prenatal detection of congenital abnormalities. It summarizes the prevalence, etiology, prenatal sonographic features and prognosis for both common and rare fetal abnormalities.