Making sure that women of reproductive age are healthy before and between pregnancies increases their chances of having healthy pregnancies and remaining healthy throughout their lives. The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment strives to improve preconception health among women and men of reproductive age with a focus on intended pregnancy and healthy weight. Interviews revealed that states...

In 2008, only 76.9 percent of pregnant women in Colorado received first trimester prenatal care. The target for reporting year 2010 is 77.0 percent.1 Colorado falls below the (latest available) national average of 83.7 percent and well below Healthy People 2010 Objective 16-6a, which recommends that 90 percent of pregnant women enroll in first trimester prenatal care.

The Prenatal Plus program is a special program for pregnant women on Medicaid that provides case management, nutrition counseling, and psychosocial services to pregnant women who are at risk for negative maternal and infant health outcomes due to lifestyle, behavioral, and non-medical parts of a woman's life that could affect her pregnancy.