Prenatal Care Health Article

PRENATAL CARE

Prenatal care describes the health and supportive services provided to a woman during her pregnancy. Prenatal care generally consists of an ordered series of visits to health professionals, with the visits occurring monthly early in the pregnancy and weekly during the last month of pregnancy.

Comprehensive prenatal care includes the following components: (1) screening, monitoring, and testing for early identification and management of medical problems or complications (such as gestational diabetes); (2) ongoing assessment and mediation of risk factors (such as tobacco and alcohol use or domestic violence); (3) nutrition assessment and counseling; (4) health education, information, and counseling about pregnancy, labor and delivery, and baby care; and (5) assessment and care for psychosocial needs (such as stress reduction).

Prenatal care is a unique opportunity for delivering services simultaneously to a mother and her fetus. Pregnancy, and therefore prenatal care, is often the entry point for women into the health care system. The services provided during pregnancy and immediately following the delivery of an infant have significant effects on maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Prenatal care is a window of opportunity for identifying and addressing numerous medical and behavioral health issues. For example, pregnancy may be the motivator for a woman to stop smoking or develop healthier eating habits. During prenatal care, the groundwork can be set for establishing a medical home for the infant and mother. It is an opportunity for a young family to enter into the health care system.

CAROLYN B. SLACK

(SEE ALSO: Maternal and Child Health; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Screening)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, S. S., ed. (1988). Prenatal Care: Reaching Mothers, Reaching Infants. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Kotch, J. B.; Blakely, C. H.; Brown, S. S.; and Wong, F. Y., eds. (1992). A Pound of Prevention: The Case for Universal Maternity Care in the U.S. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.

McCormick, M., and Siegel, J., eds. (1999). Prenatal Care Effectiveness and Implementation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.