CenteringPregnancy®

CenteringPregnancy® is a progressive concept in prenatal care that provides assessment, support and education throughout your pregnancy, in an intimate and relaxed group setting.

• Spend two hours with your Nurse Midwife and other expecting moms at each visit

• Become friends with other expectant parents over seven months of visits

• Be efficient with your always-on-time appointments

• Learn how to take better care of yourself and your family

All About Women Midwifery is one of the first practices in the area to offer the CenteringPregnancy® group care concept.  It is an exciting way for women and their families to get prenatal care, and an option that many enjoy.  Check-ups, support and education all take place in a group setting - with each woman having some private time with the midwife facilitator.  Generally speaking, patients in the program spend more time with their midwife and with other pregnant women, which gives them a chance to learn a lot more about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. 

Patients have been thrilled with the Centering option..."I think Centering is the GREATEST thing ever!  It really worked for my schedule, I got a lot of great information, I felt very supported and I made some wonderful friends.  I have recommended this group to my friend who is pregnant and she loves it too!"

Our CenteringPregnancy® Staff

Our CenteringPregnancy team consists of three facilitators (Mary Barber, CNM, Julie Bell, CNM, and Liz Howell, CNM), as well as three co-facilitators (Debbie, Jan, and Lynn).  Each group is led by one facilitator and one co-facilitator for the duration of the 10 sessions.  This allows for continuity of care and the opportunity to establish a ongoing patient-provider relationship with your facilitator and co-facilitator. 
 

Groups

Check-ups, support, and education all take place in a group setting.  You will be in a group with other women whose due dates are close to yours.  In each of the ten sessions, you have some private time with your practitioner, but you will also meet as a group to discuss questions, concerns and solutions.  Each session includes topics that focus on you, your baby, and your family.  Ultimately, the group as a whole determines the content of discussions based on feedback from each group member.

The group environment encourages meaningful discussion about important topics in pregnancy.  You will be able to talk about the things you are going through - both physically and emotionally.  You will have the opportunity to share stories and learn from the experiences of other women who may bring different perspectives and questions to the group - some you may not have even considered!  Many expecting moms enjoy the supportive "community" environment that develops over the course of the 10 group visits. 

"I really appreciated the Centering hours and enjoyed the company of the other women in the group.  Everyone at the office has been wonderful and I always felt well-informed.  This has truly been a great experience all around." 

Learn Self-Care

At your first session you will receive an in-depth "Mom's Notebook" that includes a wealth of information about pregnancy and group sessions.  We will also teach you how to take your own blood pressure and weight.  By recording this information in your own personal prenatal care record, you can track your progress throughout our pregnancy; many women enjoy keeping their prenatal record booklets as a keepsake! 

Maximize Your Time

At the beginning of your pregnancy, you will receive a schedule of your 10 CenteringPregnancy® visits including dates and times.  In general, each of your CenteringPregnancy® visits will occur at the same time of the day, on the same day of the week.  Group sessions occur every month in the beginning of your pregnancy and then twice per month closer to your due date.  Each two hour session starts and ends at the scheduled time, making it easy to plan for work and childcare. 

For More Information

For more information about CenteringPregnancy®, please contact our midwifery office at (413) 794-9969.  Our staff is here to answer your questions about this exciting program!