Prenatal Care and Parenting Groups Improve Birth Outcomes
In several clinical trials of the CenteringPregnancy® conducted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the CenteringPregnancy® model found that group participants received better prenatal care, had fewer preterm births, were more likely to initiate breastfeeding, and had better prenatal knowledge than those receiving usual care.
Prenatal Care Through Nine Months
Groups are an entirely different experience, for both patient and care provider, than individual appointments. Groups are extremely effective in helping people meet their goals and providing support. It can help:
- Improve understanding as members share common life experiences
- Build community
- Develop positive peer influences
- Increase motivation to learn and change
- Problem-solving skill development
Well-Woman and Well-Baby Care Through the First Year
Well-Woman Care | Well-Baby Care |
Postpartum care Family Planning Mental Health Breastfeeding Oral Health Relationships, Safe Sex Infant Attachment Life Balance Achieve weight goals |
Infant growth and development Immunization Nutrition Illness Oral Health Safety: Car Seats, Childproofing Motor Skills, Milestones Cognition Behavior |
CenteringPregnancy® Group Environment
The group environment is a place to ask questions, offer and receive advice, help yourself and others find answers, express concerns in a supportive environment, share joys and meet other expectant mothers. What you can expect:
- 10 two‐hour group sessions with other expectant mothers in similar gestational age
- Your provider participates in the group
- Learn about pregnancy and be better prepared for your birth experience
- No wait time, group starts and ends on time
- Learn tips to help you care for your baby
- Be more involved in your healthcare
What Women Are Saying About CenteringPregnancy®
“The other women in the group became another group of friends for me.”
“I’d say the community building has been the most satisfying thing to see among patients and it has been the most satisfying thing for me, personally, because you become included in that community as well.”
“I’m learning that it doesn’t matter what the group doesn’t talk about because we’re talking about what matters to the group.”
Contact Jen Boyers, RN, BSN, C-EFM, Nurse Clinician, CenteringPregnancy® Coordinator, (513) 584-8220
UC Health-University of Cincinnati Medical Center