All birthing people have healthy pregnancies and maternal birth outcomes.

Women who receive early prenatal care have lower rates of negative pregnancy outcomes and have access to social support systems and programs that can help navigate pregnancy safely and healthily. HNC 2030, p. 88

In 2018, 68% of women in North Carolina received pregnancy related healthcare services within the first trimester of pregnancy. Women in lower income groups are less likely to be insured and have less access to appropriate prenatal care. Medicaid in North Carolina provides women with lower income prenatal care, delivery, postpartum care, childbirth classes, and treatment for complications with pregnancy. Teenage mothers and mothers in their early 20s are less likely to seek early prenatal care than older mothers. African American women, Hispanic women, and American Indian women are less likely to receive early prenatal care when compared to white women. The current goal for the next 10 years is to improve the percentage of early prenatal care to 80% of women for the first trimester of pregnancy. HNC 2030 pp. 88-89

• Allow certified nurse midwives to practice under their full authority
• Encourage group prenatal care, childbirth education, and doula services are covered services by Medicaid
• Expand Medicaid eligibility
• Expand safe and reliable public transit options
• Provide education for local health & human services agencies on the importance of prenatal care.
• Public and provider awareness/education about ability to receive prenatal care services before receiving Medicaid card
• Strengthen workforce diversity and cultural humility in the delivery of prenatal care services
• Support quality improvement efforts to address provider bias
• Take advantage of the Children’s Health Insurance Program option to provide coverage for comprehensive prenatal care to undocumented immigrant women
• Use community health workers to provide outreach and education to women of childbearing age in underserved communities

NC State Center for Health Statistics, Vital Statistics

• Number of pregnancy care providers in the community
• Number of High-risk pregnancy care providers in the community
• Employer policies related to pregnancy care
• Number of community health care workers providing outreach and education
• Availability of public transportation to get to prenatal appointments