Early prenatal care, considered best for moms and babies, is on the decline in the US

Early prenatal care improves the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. But a new federal report shows it’s been on the decline.

The share of U.S. births to women who began prenatal care in the first trimester dropped from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday.

Meanwhile, starting care later in pregnancy or getting no care at all has been on the rise. Prenatal care beginning in the second trimester rose from 15.4% to 17.3%...