The CenteringPregnancy Program is an entirely new approach to prenatal care that brings women with similar due dates to their appointments together in groups. It offers them the opportunity to be active in their own care, to voice concerns, and to have unrushed time with their provider to learn about pregnancy and childbirth and to plan for their new babies. Greenville Ob Gyn Associates is adopting this exciting and innovative program in our practice. "Centering" is a model of prenatal care that clinics throughout the country have used for over ten years.
What is Centering?
Centering is a group model of prenatal care. That means that all your appointments will take place with the same group of 10-12 women who are also due in the same month as you. In Centering groups, you receive all the routine prenatal care that you would have received in individual appointments - in other words, Centering replaces your routine doctors visits. Instead of having your prenatal care alone in an exam room, you come directly to a comfortable, inviting large room with your group.How does Centering work?
You start your Centering group after you have had your first prenatal visit, which included your initial obstetric exam. There are 10 scheduled groups - once a month for four sessions, then every two weeks for the final six sessions, until you are ready to deliver. Each session is two hours long, which includes time for each participant to get an individual checkup with the healthcare provider, as well as time to socialize with other pregnant women and their families, ask questions of your healthcare provider, and discuss important topics for you and your family. You do not need any other appointments for your prenatal care (unless you have unexpected complications).Why have we decided to offer Centering?
We believe that Centering is a great way to get your prenatal care for many reasons -* More time with your healthcare provider. You have a full two hours with two healthcare providers to ask questions, get advice, and fully understand pregnancy health and infant development.
* No more waiting in the waiting room! In Centering, you do not have to wait to be seen. You have activities planned from the time you arrive until the time you leave, and your healthcare provider is there with you the entire time.
* The group experience. Being in a group of other pregnant women and families can be a wonderful experience. You can compare your experiences through the growth of your bodies and your family, give each other advice and insight, and offer each other the social support which is critical at this point in your life.
* Centering is a proven effective method of prenatal care. Scientific studies have shown that families who participate in Centering have lower rates of preterm births, lower rates of low birthweight babies, and higher rates of satisfaction with their prenatal care.
* Consistent scheduling. Your group will meet at the same time on the same day of the week, making it easier to schedule around your prenatal care and remember your appointments!
* Interactive care. Centering is empowering - you will learn to take, record, and track some of your own health indicators (like your blood pressure). Centering is not a "class," it is a group - you and your colleagues in the group will teach each other and grow in your awareness of your health and well-being. Your group facilitators and healthcare providers will organize interactive and informative activities around relevant health topics (such as infant feeding, pregnancy discomforts, postpartum adjustment, and labor and delivery).
* FUN! We consider laughter and comfort to be important ingredients in good prenatal care.
* Postpartum reunions. About six weeks after everyone delivers, we will get the group together for a reunion with our babies. We get to hear birth stories, meet the babies, and celebrate these amazing new lives.
We look forward to introducing you to our Centering program. Please call us for further information at (864) 295-4210.