Advances in perinatal care: 1970--1980.

Although recognition of the neonate as an entity deserving special consideration was slow at first, the rise of perinatology to the rank of subspecialty has occurred swiftly over the last 25 years. Considerable improvements in both the quantity and quality of perinatal survival have resulted. The more significant recent advances in selected areas (hemolytic diseases, hyperbilirubinemia, maternal diabetes, hyaline membrane disease, nutrition of the tiny premature neonate, infections, monitoring and mother-child interaction) are discussed, and speculations are made about the next five years.