Trimester of Prenatal Care
It is most beneficial for prenatal care to begin in the first trimester and continue throughout the pregnancy. In 2023, 69.81% of all Florida resident births occurred to mothers who began prenatal care in the first trimester. This percentage peaked in 2003 at 85.85% and has since declined.
Smoking
Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of poor birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm birth. In 1990, 16.18% of all newborns in Florida were born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy. This percentage has since declined steadily to 1.8% in 2023.
Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index
The percentage of births in Florida to mothers with a normal pre-pregnancy BMI (18.5-24.9) decreased from 48.77% in 2010 to 38% in 2023. The percentage of births to mothers with an overweight pre-pregnancy BMI (25-29.9) increased from 25.2% in 2010 to 29.01% in 2023. The percentage of births to mothers with an obese pre-pregnancy BMI (>=30), increased from 21.13% in 2010 to 29.96% in 2023.