The oral testimony of health professionals recorded in this document questions the Federal government's success at assuring prenatal care for poor women. The concern is that many of the infant deaths that occur in the United States might be prevented if the mother had received adequate prenatal care. Programs have improved the health care delivery for many women but the country lags behind gains made in other industrialized nations, and the mortality rates for black infants has actually increased. Barriers to prenatal care include the following: (1) inadequate family income; (2) stress of day-to-day survival; (3) lack of transportation to clinics; (4) lack of knowledge of the pregnancy; (5) inability to communicate with health care providers; and (6) the mother's perception that the care is not useful, supportive, or pleasant. Written statements and letters are also included. Descriptions of programs and new proposals for services and research are presented. Statistical data are presented in tables. Three appendices clarify the testimony. (VM)