According to a CDC report, the proportion of births to US women who started prenatal care in the first trimester fell from 78.3% in 2021 to 75.5% in 2024.[1][2] Care initiated in the second trimester increased from 15.4% to 17.3%, and in the third trimester or no care from 6.3% to 7.3%.[1][2] This decline was seen in almost all racial and ethnic groups, and was more pronounced among minorities; for black mothers, first-trimester care dropped from 69.7% in 2021 to 65.1% in 2024.[1][2] In 2023, first-trimester care was 76.1%, the lowest since 2016, and late or no care rose to 7.0%.[3] The share of mothers without any prenatal care rose from 2.2% in 2022 to 2.3% in 2023.[5] The report states that early prenatal care improves the chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby.[1][2] Late or no care increases the risk of maternal mortality, which is higher among black mothers.[1]