Midwifery & Centering

What is Centering Pregnancy?

• Centering is a group prenatal program that brings 8-12 pregnant mothers with similar expected due dates together for a unique and educational prenatal care experience. Participants enjoy more time with their midwife and form lasting friendships with other members of the group. Women are able to bond with and learn from one another in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. 

What are the key benefits?

• No waiting room! The group always starts on time and ends on time. This means no waiting for appointments.

• Preplanned appointment times to help schedule around childcare or work. All appointments are preset and patients are notified in advance. 

• Promotion of self care!

• Built in support system with women experiencing things at the same time that you are. 

• More time with your midwife. 

• Most importantly a fun interactive way to learn about your pregnancy!

When are the centering visits?

• Your centering group will meet at a consistent day and time of the week. Once you start your first Centering group, you will receive a schedule of each group appointment for the remainder of your pregnancy. You will receive a list of all 10 scheduled sessions to be able to plan accordingly for work or childcare. At the beginning of pregnancy you will meet with your group every 4 weeks. As your pregnancy reaches closer to your due date you will meet every 2 weeks. Centering follows the same frequency of visits compared to traditional prenatal care. During the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy when prenatal visits are weekly, you will have individual appointments to accommodate the routine prenatal care schedule. 

How long are the centering visits?

• Each session is two hours long which gives you 10x more time with your midwife compared to traditional prenatal care.

What happens during the session?

• During the session you actively participate in your care. We teach you how to measure your weight and blood pressure and assist in recording your health data. We have seen that participants have a better understanding, appreciation and recall of their health information when they actively participate in this way. Each session includes private time with your provider for a belly check and an opportunity for any concerns that you do not wish to discuss in front of the group. The remaining time is spent in a facilitated discussion of topics related to your pregnancy, birth, parenting, and more. The group learns from your provider and also from one another. 

What topics are included in centering?

• Topics include nutrition, comfort measures, contraception, feeding baby, birth options, labor, delivery and postpartum. You will have a centering book that will guide you through all of our topics and have a place for you to record your own health data. 

What is the built in support system? 

• One of the key benefits of a group of having women in the same gestational age is a builtin support system. We have found that lifelong friendships are formed with the women in the group. You aren’t going through this alone and it is helpful when you can relate to someone who is going through the same excitement and discomforts. You may find that if you have a question, many others are thinking the same. 

Is there any privacy in a group session?

• Yes! The first part of the session you do have an individual time with your provider to address questions you may not feel comfortable sharing. You do not have to share anything that is outside of your comfort zone. What happens in centering always stays in centering!  We have found the longer you continue coming to the sessions, you begin to form trust and bonds with the other expectant women and even develop lifelong friendships.

Is centering prenatal care only for first time moms?

• Absolutely not! We encourage all of our pregnant women whether it is a first pregnancy or a fifth child! Women who have gone through pregnancy before may want to share what they have learned with others. This creates a wonderful dynamic to the group. 

Are children allowed to come during the session?

• We ask that you do not bring your children to centering sessions. Although we love to see your children, we want you to experience the full benefit of the sessions and keep the focus completely on the members of the group.

Do centering sessions cost differently than traditional prenatal care visits?

• Nope! Cost is the same as traditional prenatal care. You are still receiving great prenatal care but with the addition of a built in support system.

What happens if I am sick the day of the centering session?

• We do ask if you are sick to please stay home. If you miss a centering session, you will need to make an individual appointment with one of the providers in the office. You can then resume with the next session. However, we only allow you to miss two sessions, as missing multiple sessions changes group dynamics.