Public Health and Maternal Care

A new CDC analysis of birth certificates finds that the share of U.S. births with first‑trimester prenatal care has fallen from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024, reversing years of gradual progress. Over the same period, late or no prenatal care rose nationally from 6.3% to 7.3%, with increases seen in at least 36 states and Washington, D.C., and across every age group and nearly all racial and ethnic groups. OB‑GYN Alex Peahl of the University of Michigan and ACOG says missing first‑trimester visits reduces chances to catch and manage conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, where simple early interventions such as starting aspirin can significantly lower risks for mothers and babies. The report does not formally assign causes, but experts point to expanding 'maternity care deserts,' rural hospital closures, scaled‑back obstetric services, and coverage barriers for Medicaid patients who struggle to get appointments or even proof of pregnancy. Professional groups are watching to see whether health systems respond by adopting new ACOG guidance that streamlines low‑risk prenatal care into fewer, more flexible visits to ease access pressures.