CenteringPregnancy programs are group prenatal care programs that are becoming increasingly popular. In this article, you’ll learn what group prenatal care is, how it helps moms-to-be and how to get involved with the program.
What Is Group Prenatal Care?
Group prenatal care is an approach to delivering healthcare education and social support to expectant mothers. Traditionally, most women see their prenatal care providers monthly in a typical office setting during the first and second trimesters, and then around once every two weeks during the final trimester.
With group prenatal care, moms-to-be connect with a maternal medicine provider weekly, attending sessions alongside other women who are at similar points in their pregnancies. Sessions combine the features of conventional prenatal checkups with elements of prenatal education classes and support groups to help meet the physical, mental, emotional and social needs of pregnant women.
What Are the Benefits of Group Prenatal Care?
Group prenatal care provides numerous benefits for pregnant women, including the following.
Increased Education
Pregnancy brings many questions for women. They may wonder what to eat, worry about unexpected symptoms and have concerns about delivery and caring for their newborns. Although the Internet places a wealth of information at the fingertips of expectant moms, it can be difficult to determine what advice is trustworthy and evidence-based. Group prenatal programs take the unknown out of pregnancy, educating moms-to-be on a wide range of topics so that they can take better care of themselves and their babies.
Social Support
Group prenatal programs enable pregnant women to build relationships with other moms-to-be and provide opportunities to give and receive social support. Connections made over the course of the program often continue during the postnatal period, providing new moms with a support network.
Closer Monitoring
Women who participate in group prenatal care programs often see maternal care providers more frequently than those who receive traditional prenatal care. As a result, they have more opportunities to receive customized advice. The increased access to care can also enable maternal care providers to diagnose potential complications, such as gestational diabetes, more quickly.
Improved Health Outcomes
Group prenatal care programs empower women to make healthy choices during and after pregnancy, while also providing enhanced access to care. By playing a more active role in their healthcare and meeting with care providers more frequently, women may experience fewer challenges during pregnancy and have more positive birth experiences. The education and support offered during sessions can also improve the chances of breastfeeding success.
Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Through education and social support, group prenatal care programs can make pregnancy less stressful. At the same time, group care can increase expectant moms’ confidence and self-esteem, contributing to overall mental and emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and beyond.
CenteringPregnancy at Broward HealthPoint
Launched two years ago, Broward HealthPoint’s CenteringPregnancy brings together groups of 10 to 12 women whose due dates are within a few weeks of each other. During each of the 10 sessions, led by a maternal care provider, women join in discussions about their pregnancies and overall health. Some topics covered include:
- Self-care to support overall wellbeing
- Healthy eating and prenatal nutrition
- Mental health concerns during and after pregnancy
- What to expect during childbirth and creating a birth plan
- Exercise to promote health during and after pregnancy
- Benefits of breastfeeding and nursing tips
- Newborn care
In addition to group discussions, each session includes time for the moms-to-be to meet individually with a nurse practitioner or midwife. This one-on-one support gives women a chance to ask questions and check on how their pregnancy is progressing.
The support provided by CenteringPregnancy does not end with delivery. Participants receive ongoing assistance until their babies’ first birthdays. The program’s team also helps each woman connect with primary care providers who can oversee the healthcare services that they and their children need going forward.
Melida Akiti, a corporate transformation executive at Broward Health, explains that “CenteringPregnancy is for every pregnant woman, and the goal is simple: to improve the health of pregnant women in Broward County. We provide comprehensive women’s health services at Broward Health. CenteringPregnancy is another piece that allows us to help women be as healthy as possible through their entire life journey.”
Prioritize Your Health During Pregnancy and Beyond
Participating in the CenteringPregnancy program can help you prioritize your health during and after pregnancy, and all pregnant women are welcome to self-enroll. We currently have English and Creole groups with plans underway to launch a Spanish group. For more information about signing up for CenteringPregnancy, call 954-759-6780 or e-mail [email protected].
Broward Health, providing service for more than 85 years, is a nationally recognized system in South Florida that offers world-class healthcare to all. The Broward Health system includes the statutory teaching hospital Broward Health Medical Center, Broward Health North, Broward Health Imperial Point, Broward Health Coral Springs, Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital, Broward Health Weston, Broward HealthPoint, Broward Health Physician Group, Broward Health Urgent Care, Broward Health International, and Broward Health Foundation. For more information, visit BrowardHealth.org.
