CenteringPregnancy

CenteringPregnancy® is a group prenatal care program that brings pregnant women who are due at the same time out of exam rooms and individual care experiences into a comfortable group setting.

Developed by the Centering Healthcare Institute, CenteringPregnancy — along with the Institute's other centering group care programs — is designed to empower patients, strengthen patient-provider relationships and build communities, with the ultimate goal of delivering better health outcomes and a better care experience for both pregnant women and their providers.

How It Works

You and your partner are placed in a group with other women due around the same time. Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, but each visit is 90 minutes to two hours long — giving you more time with your provider than a standard visit.

The first portion of your visit is a private health assessment. You'll take your own weight and blood pressure and record your own health data, as well as have private one-on-one time with your health care provider. Then you'll gather with the rest of your centering group and providers will then lead group discussions on a range of topics such as:

• Managing stress
• Nutrition
• Breastfeeding
• Infant care

Benefits

The CenteringPregnancy program offers pregnant women and their partners a number of benefits, including:

• Better Health Outcomes — Lower preterm birth rates; increased breastfeeding success rates
• Self-Care and Self-Confidence — Deeply engage in your own health care and become better prepared for labor, delivery and newborn care
• More Time with Your Provider — Sessions are 90 minutes, covering health assessments and discussions
• Community Building — Relationships are forged through this shared experience, reducing isolation
• Learning through Fun — Parents develop greater understanding through group-led, meaningful discussions

Most parents continue with the CenteringParenting® program — a family-centered group model for moms, babies and their caregivers.

How to Participate

The CenteringPregnancy program is offered at MultiCare exclusively through MultiCare Family Medicine Center and is open to both new and current MultiCare patients. Call 253-403-6750 for more information and to schedule an initial appointment.

Washington March of Dimes - Group Prenatal Care

MultiCare Family Medicine Center providers Dr. Swanson and Dr. Payne explain the CenteringPregnancy program and its connection to the March of Dimes in this short video.