The Importance of Prenatal Care Prenatal care is widely accepted as an important element in improving pregnancy outcomes. (Gorrie, McKinney, Murray, 1998). Prenatal care is defined as the care of a pregnant woman during the period of the maternal cycle beginning with conception and ending with the onset of labor. Medical, surgical, gynecologic, obstetric, social, and family history is collected (Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary, 1998). It is important for a pregnant woman and our society to know that everything you do has an effect on your baby. Because so many women choose not to receive the benefits of prenatal care, our society sees the consequences, which include a variety of complications primarily related to the baby. According to the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, prenatal care must be started before the fourth month of gestation and include more than 13 visits to be considered adequate. Any deviation from the guidelines deems the care inadequate. Focus The objective of this document is to inform not only women about the problems that can arise from inadequate care, but society as a whole. By being well informed about the benefits of prenatal care, people can make more accurate decisions. We must also focus on the reasons why women choose not to receive adequate care and strive to improve medical care in hopes of increasing the number of women receiving prenatal care. It is essential that nurses have a clear understanding of prenatal care, why some women do not receive it, and how to educate clients and families about the benefits. Incidence, prevalence, population Every day approximately 475 newborns are born to mothers who have started prenatal care. center of sheet......adelphia: WB Saunders, p.45.Hawkins, J., Aber, C., Cannan, A., Coppinger, C. and Rafferty, K. , (1998). Self-care behaviors reported by women during pregnancy. Health Care for Women International, 19, 529-538. Hays, B., Kaiser, K., McMabon, C., & Kaup, K., (2000). Public health nursing data: Building the knowledge base for high-risk prenatal patients. MCN, 25 (3), 151-158. Higgins, P. and Woods, P., (1999) Reasons, health behaviors and outcomes for missing antenatal care: research that has changed practice. Health Care for Women International, 20, 127-136.Moore, M. and Freda, M., (1998). Reducing premature and low birth weight births: still a nursing challenge. MCN, 23(4). Retrieved October 18, 2000, from http://www.nursingcenter.com.Prenatal Care. National Vital Statistics Report, 48, (3). Retrieved October 19, 2000, from http://www.cdc.gov/prenatstats.