ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For nearly a century, expecting mothers have followed a similar prenatal care schedule: about a dozen visits that increase in frequency as delivery approaches.
Now, an influential organization is partnering with the University of Michigan to recommend significant changes that personalize prenatal care for pregnant patients.
“We know that we’re in the midst of a maternity care crisis, with birthing people today more likely to die in childbirth than their mothers,” said Dr. Alex Peahl, who works at the University of Michigan. “We also know that access is a huge issue. A quarter of people aren’t able to access prenatal care into the first trimester.”
Peahl co-authored new proposed guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that suggest fewer in-person visits for average or low-risk patients, supplemented by more telehealth check-ups.
“For someone who wants more contact in pregnancy, they may select in-person visits as part of their journey,” Peahl said. “This might be a first-time mom or someone who doesn’t have social support in the area. In contrast, people who have been through pregnancy before, have busy work schedules or childcare needs, might want a more flexible schedule with telemedicine and a streamlined visit schedule.”
Patients facing barriers to frequent appointments would be offered referrals to reduce those obstacles, including the option for group care.
Peahl said personalized plans help build trust between patients and providers.
“When I share the option for tailored prenatal care plans with my patients, their first response is usually surprise,” Peahl said. “They’re not used to clinicians asking them their perspective and being partners in their care plan.”
She stressed that personalized care does not mean less care. Patients who have fewer in-person visits may have longer visits when they do come in, and doctors are always available if a patient has any issues or concerns.