In the late 20th century, parents face hazards of reproduction which are both old and new. Because of so much environmental disruption, the safety and sanctity of the womb has been forever changed. A mother's diet can be a factor in birth defects. If the error occurs at the top end of the tube, the baby will be born without a brain. If the lower section fails to close, the child is born with an open spine, a condition which usually means living in a wheelchair or on crutches.
Famine creates a variety of birth defects.
Famines produce increased rates of diabetes and schizophrenia, partly through zinc deficiency which contributes to both diseases. In the modern urban environment, estrogenic compounds flow freely and impact sexual development. Creating Emotional Foundations One of the biggest surprises about life in the womb is the extent of emotional involvement and expression, none of which was anticipated in psychology or medicine. By 15 weeks, ultrasound reveals babies moving in reaction to something as simple as a mother's laugh or cough. With precocious development of hearing and tasting before 16 weeks gestational age, the way is open for extensive interaction with mothers and fathers during pregnancy.