Press Releases
DATE: 15 Oct. 2008
RELEASE NO: 08-25
(Left to right) Eva Madrigal, Gleysi Gutiérrez, Alejandra Morales, Ma. de Lourdes Gómez, and Cristina Gonzáles all participated in the Centering Pregnancy program last November. All of them gave birth to girls this past year and are continuing their children’s care through Grace Hill pediatricians. Photo by Gerald Sonnenberg
Grace Hill’s ‘Centering Pregnancy’ program
By Rebekah Hassler, FNP
Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc. conducts a Centering Pregnancy program, and the program is changing the way prenatal care is done. Women move out of exam rooms and into groups of 8 to 12 other women for their entire prenatal care, from the early second trimester through early postpartum--10 sessions in all. The women all have similar due dates.
Over the months, they get to know each other, build friendships and gain confidence in their own knowledge and skills. Self-care activities include monitoring blood pressure, weight, entering data on their charts, and completion of self-assessment sheets. All contribute to an understanding of themselves and their sense of confidence in their decision-making abilities. Studies show that 96 to 97 percent of all women in groups prefer getting their care in this way. Providers also get to know the women much better during the 20-hours of contact time versus the two to three hours they might have during traditional care.
At Grace Hill, women can return for well-baby and for on-going
well-woman care.
The transition to parenting is one of the most difficult times in the life of a family. That’s why Grace Hill is looking at starting a Centering Parenting program for families during the first year of life.
Centering Parenting occurs much like Centering Pregnancy. Groups of five to six couples sit in a circle and meet together about ten times during the first year... at 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks, and at 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 months.
Mothers (or fathers) weigh and measure their babies. They complete growth charts and self-assessment sheets. They participate with the provider in the developmental exam and contribute directly to the individual physical assessment. Provider expertise is needed and provided for both mother and baby.
For more information, patients can leave a message for the Centering Pregnancy program at 898-1999.
