About one in five Colorado babies didn’t get timely care before birth in 2024, raising risks for both the children and their mothers.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment tracks data for each live birth in the state , including when mothers started prenatal care. The department doesn’t ask those who started late or skipped care why they didn’t receive the recommended prenatal visits, but state officials and nonprofits focused on infant and maternal health believe lack of access to care is a major factor.

The vast majority of Colorado has a shortage of prenatal care providers, requiring families in some rural areas to drive an hour or longer for routine pregnancy visits, according to the state health department.

Last year, 19% of babies in Colorado were born to moth

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