Genetic counseling in primary obstetric care.

Of all health professionals the obstetrician is by far the best-equipped to integrate genetic counseling into health care delivery. As with most aspects of the practice of medicine, genetic information increases daily. The practicing obstetrician, by learning the fundamentals of genetics, can at least delineate at-risk situations. When a new situation arises he can either consult an up-to-date article or book 185--190 or refer the patient to the local genetic counseling clinic for further appraisal. By incorporating prospective counseling and in some cases retrospective counseling into his daily practice, the obstetrician can contribute greatly to the ideals of obstetrics, namely producing healthy children for his patients.