Over one-fourth pregnant women in the US do not begin prenatal care in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Studying 30 prenatal care programs and analyzing surveys of mothers who did not seek prenatal care, this book reports their findings, and offers recommendations for improving the maternity system and increasing the use of prenatal care programs.

Prenatal care programs have proven effective in improving birth outcomes and preventing low birthweight. Yet over one-fourth of all pregnant women in the United States do not begin prenatal care in the first 3 months of pregnancy, and for some groups--such as black teenagers--participation in prenatal care is declining. To find out why, the authors studied 30 prenatal care programs and analyzed surveys of mothers who did not seek prenatal care. This new book reports their findings and offers specific recommendations for improving the nation's maternity system and increasing the use of prenatal care programs.