Prenatal Care
The majority of local pregnant women are receiving timely prenatal care. Three-fourths of all local mothers who gave birth in 2009 started prenatal care during their first trimester. Rates of late entry to prenatal care have shown a slight decrease in the past three years, and vary noticeably along racial and socio-economic/geographic lines, and by mother’s level of educational attainment (2009 data): White and Asian women (86.2% and 82.1%, respectively) have the highest rates of first-trimester prenatal care. Among mothers who received late or no prenatal care, the most births were to women from East Salinas (688), Greenfield (194), Seaside/Sand City (123) and King City (113). (Source: Monterey County Birth Outcomes 2009, Monterey County Health Department)
First-trimester care was most prevalent among local mothers who gave birth at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (88.3%) and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (91.6%), and lowest at Watsonville Community Hospital (66%), Natividad Medical Center (62.1%) and Mee Memorial Hospital (58.7%). Sixty-four percent of local mothers who received prenatal care in their first trimester had completed high school or some college, whereas 60.7% of those with late entry or no prenatal care had not completed high school. (Source: Monterey County Birth Outcomes 2009, Monterey County Health Department)
Source: Monterey County Birth Outcomes 2009, Monterey County Health Department
BREASTFEEDING
It is well known that breastfeeding provides significant advantages to both infants and mothers. In 2009, hospitals in Monterey County reported notably higher rates of infants receiving at least some mother’s milk (96%) as well as those feeding exclusively on breast milk (70%) before their discharge from the hospital, when compared to statewide rates (which were 90% and 52%, respectively). (Source: California Public Health Department, 2011)
However, local breastfeeding rates vary significantly by hospital/geographic region, with those facilities serving the preponderance of poorer families reporting notably lower rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Working mothers find it more difficult to continue breastfeeding for the minimum one to two years recommended by health experts , and those who don’t exclusively breastfeed during the first few days after birth are less likely to rely on breast milk in subsequent weeks and months.
Source: California Public Health Department, 2011
Confirmed in Compliance with National