ABSTRACT
The importance of the prenatal and perinatal stages of development have been shown, throughout history, to be extremely complex. It has been highlighted that during the end of the embryonic stage (12 weeks’ gestation), the vital organs of the body such as the brain, central nervous system, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys have all begun to form, along with the limbs and boney skeleton. Given the complexity of the developmental process this chapter aims to explore the roles of the obstetric services and maternity services and the importance of the health of the parents and family history related to congenital conditions. The interplay between genetics and the role of the environment (epigenetics) is also explored, along with the impact of advancements in technology.
