Prenatal care is health care and other services available to pregnant women as a fetus develops.
Potential mothers before and during pregnancy may use services to promote positive lifestyle behaviors including risk-specific referrals and obstetrical care until the onset of labor and delivery of a newborn infant. 14 Adequate prenatal care usually defined as starting care in the first three months of pregnancy and at least 9 visits for women giving birth to full-term infants after 40 weeks. This information is recorded on each baby's birth certificate. The criteria for this index are based on a national project, MCH Model Indicators and expert advice. This measure shows a level of high-risk condition for mothers who needed and received more than a standard recommended number of PNC visits.