Why Wait? Hope Starts Here!
The sooner you get care, the better your chances are for a healthy pregnancy and birth. Early prenatal care and support programs are important for every pregnancy, even when you feel well. It gives you a chance to ask questions, learn what to expect, connect with helpful resources and support, and work with your care team to monitor your health and your baby’s development. Starting prenatal care during the first trimester also helps identify and manage health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, infections and nutritional deficiencies that can affect both mother and baby.
Según el Detroit Health Equity Dashboard:
- More than one in five Detroit infants are born preterm.
- Only 74% of pregnant women in Detroit received care in the first trimester.
- Daily folic acid (Vitamin C) reduces the risk for neural tube defects by 70%. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommends taking a daily prenatal vitamin containing at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid during the first 12 weeks to help prevent neural tube defects.
Find helpful pregnancy planning and prenatal health information from the CDC. Click here to learn more.
Watch this video to learn more and find additional resources below.
Health Organizations
Medicaid Insurance
Medicaid covers about 45% to half of all births in Michigan, which amounts to tens of thousands of pregnant women across the state each year.
Medicaid is available to women and birthing persons while pregnant, including the month the pregnancy ends and during the two calendar months following the month the pregnancy ends. Obtenga más información aquí.
Major federal Medicaid changes began Oct. 1 and also take place on Jan. 1.
Early awareness and referral can help patients avoid coverage gaps, delayed care, medication interruptions and unexpected bills.
Oct. 1, 2026: Some non-U.S. citizens moved from full Medicaid to Emergency Services Only, which covers emergency medical conditions—not routine, chronic or preventive care. Full coverage continues for some defined groups, such as lawful permanent residents, and most lawfully residing pregnant women and children under 21.
Jan. 1, 2027: For Healthy Michigan Plan members ages 19–64, renewals move to every six months; non-exempt members must meet work requirements through employment, education, volunteer service or approved workforce activity; retroactive coverage is limited to one month. For other Medicaid members, retroactive coverage is limited to two months.
As part of efforts to prepare Michigan residents for federally required Medicaid work requirements that begin Jan. 1, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has launched a new tool to help assist Healthy Michigan Plan (HMP) enrollees with these new conditions.
The Michigan Work and Exemptions Screening Tool (MI WEST) is designed to guide beneficiaries through the requirements they need to meet to maintain health care coverage. MI WEST asks a series of questions to help identify whether someone may qualify for an exemption, is already meeting work requirements or may need to take additional steps. The tool serves as an informational resource, not an official application or renewal.
Medicaid Health Plans
Midwifery Care
A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who cares for people during pregnancy, labor, childbirth and the postpartum period, as well as providing routine reproductive and gynecological care. Midwives have been used throughout all of history and around the world, as women who are knowledgeable about birth and experienced in helping mothers have always been invaluable to their communities. Starting in 2027, Licensed Midwives who specialize in homebirth midwifery care will be covered under Medicaid insurance.
According to the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA), The Midwives Model of Care includes:
- Monitoring the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.
- Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling, prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery and postpartum support.
- Minimizing technological interventions.
- Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.