Evidence-based prenatal care visits: When less is more

Traditionally, low-risk pregnant women in the United States who participate in prenatal care have been scheduled for approximately 14-16 prenatal visi ts, which is the schedule recommended by the American College of Obstetrici ans and Gynecologists. In 1989, an expert panel convened by the United Stat es Department of Health and Human Services proposed a reduced frequency pre natal visit schedule for low-risk, healthy women based on the timing of spe cific tests or events that occur in pregnancy. Available evidence shows no adverse effect on maternal or neonatal outcomes for low-risk pregnant women who follow a reduced visit schedule, making it a highly important consider ation for pregnant women and their health care providers. Other important a spects of prenatal care, especially related to adequacy and content, will b e explored in-depth in a future segment of this series on evidence-based pr enatal care. (C) 2001 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.