Prenatal care is medical attention given to the expectant mother and her developing baby. It also involves the mother’s caring for herself by following her health care provider’s advice, practicing good nutrition, getting plenty of rest, exercising sensibly, and avoiding things that could harm her or her baby.

Babies born to mothers who received no prenatal care are three times more likely to be born at low birth weight and are five times more likely to die than those whose mothers received prenatal care. (Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration)

In Pierce County, there is a definite upward trend (overall a 60% increase) to the rate of mothers either not receiving, or receiving late in their pregnancy, prenatal care since 1998.  In 1998 the rate of mothers receiving late or no prenatal care was 3.75 for every 100 births compared to 2008 when 6 birth mothers out of every 100 received late (3rd trimester) or no prenatal care. Data for the state as a whole for 2007 and 2008 is forthcoming.