Centering Pregnancy: Group Prenatal Care
In the fall of 2003, a new concept in prenatal care began here in Tucson at the Birth and Women's Health Center. Centering Pregnancy is an innovative option for how women receive care during their pregnancy.
The concept is based on a group model of care, emphasizing peer and community support. About 10 women with their due dates close to one another attend a large number of their prenatal check-ups together. The group visits, led by a midwife and an RN, last 90 minutes and focus on education and discussion about issues relevant to women at their stage of gestation. In addition, the women still meet privately with the midwife for the medical portion of their check-up.
This is also a great way for families to connect with one another before having a baby. In addition, each person brings a different perspective on all the choices couples face during the pregnancy, so the group provides a nice forum for discussing the pros and cons of those decisions.
There are currently a number of groups meeting in the evenings at the Birth Center, including one all-Spanish group.
Download our poster in English or in Spanish. For more information about the Centering model click here.
If you would like more information about joining the next Centering Pregnancy group, call the Birth Center at 795-9912 or contact Maria Villa at mariav@tucsonbirthcenter.org.