The 7 Benefits of Our Centering Pregnancy® Classes
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You may have heard about our Centering Pregnancy ® Classes, and how they help you bond with other mothers-to-be who have similar due dates.
But did you know that Centering Pregnancy also has great health benefits for both mom and baby?
While pregnancy is an exciting and transformative journey, it also presents certain challenges. Centering Pregnancy can help you and your partner face those challenges, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health care.
Eve Wicker, one of our patients, said the main benefit of Centering Pregnancy was the amount of time spent with the group. While some one-on-one visits will be 15 minutes long, through Centering Pregnancy, an entire hour is dedicated to discussing pregnancy-related topics with the group.
We’ll review 7 of the benefits of our Centering Pregnancy classes, what to expect, and how to sign up. But first, we’ll examine a brief history of Centering Pregnancy and evidence-based research that testifies to its positive outcomes.
How Did Centering Pregnancy Begin?
In the 1990s, healthcare provider Sharon Rising discovered that instead of repeating the same information to pregnant women in shorter, individual visits, they benefited more when they were brought together for prenatal appointments. This facilitated a supportive community and provided patients with more time with their healthcare provider.
The benefits of Centering Pregnancy became popular with colleagues, and gradually the demand for Centering Pregnancy training increased throughout the country.
The Centering Healthcare Institute was established as a non-profit organization that works with health care providers to develop and sustain the Centering model. It has been implemented in some of the world’s largest healthcare systems.
The Centering Healthcare Institute embraces core values of:
- Accountability
- Diversity and equality
- Partnership
- Data-driven
- Community
We implemented Centering Pregnancy because we knew of the incredible benefits that it could bring to our patients. We’ve found that these classes provide both physical and emotional support. In fact, many of them have commented that they have formed strong friendships with other couples as a result, and these friendships have continued even after the sessions ended.
7 Ways Centering Pregnancy Classes Benefit Mothers
1. Enhanced Education and Support
Centering Pregnancy is much more than a mere childbirth class. Not only do our sessions cover evidenced-based education on an extensive range of topics, we also have time for in-depth discussions.
These conversations promote a sense of community among participants. They share experiences, ask questions, and learn from each other’s insights, creating a supportive environment that enriches the learning process.
Sessions cover topics such as:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Childbirth techniques
- Postpartum care
- Birth plans
2. Empowering Participation
Centering Pregnancy empowers expectant mothers to take an active role in their health care. We want our participants to gain confidence and be more proactive about managing their pregnancies. As a result, many of our pregnancies have better outcomes because mothers are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors.
We accomplish this through discussions and activities in our Centering Pregnancy classes. It gives expectant mothers a sense of control, knowing that their thoughts and beliefs will be heard and respected.
3. Continuity of Care and Relationship Building
It’s important to have continuity of care with the same healthcare providers facilitating the Centering Pregnancy classes. This contributes to the sense of community this program is so well-known for.
The bond formed between expectant mothers, their partners and healthcare providers also extends beyond the program. The established relationship ensures smoother care transitions during labor, delivery, and postpartum. The result? Better patient satisfaction.
4. Peer Support
There are also more intangible benefits of Centering Pregnancy classes. They create a safe and nurturing space for expectant mothers to share joys and concerns with their partners and peers. The resulting support network goes a long way to alleviate anxiety — especially among those who are having their first child.
You can learn more by following the journey of one of our Centering Pregnancy participants in this earlier article, “Centering Pregnancy: A Patient’s Journey.”
5. Increased Knowledge of Childbirth and Parenting
For many women, pregnancy is one part joy and one part anxiety. Many have questions about newborn care and breastfeeding. Through Centering Pregnancy, we provide valuable information on everything from labor and delivery techniques to postpartum care.
But much more than information, we help our expectant mothers gain practical skills that will help them prepare for the arrival of their babies. This enables them and their partner to approach childbirth and early parenthood with greater confidence, enhancing the overall experience.
6. Improved Health Outcomes
We’ve talked a lot about support and knowledge, but did you also know that participation in Centering Pregnancy programs also reduces the risk of preterm births, low birth weight, and other complications? We’ll go into a bit more detail later in this article.
7. Postpartum Support and Transition to Parenthood
We recognize that your journey doesn’t end with the birth of your child. Therefore, these classes continue to provide support and assistance through the critical postpartum period.
From breastfeeding support to newborn care tips and emotional well-being, the program ensures that new mothers and their partners receive the support they need as they transition into their roles as parents.
Centering Pregnancy: A Better Experience With Better Clinical Outcomes
Studies have indicated that those who participate in Centering Pregnancy show improved neonatal, maternal and postpartum outcomes. It’s also effective in reducing postpartum depression six months after delivery.
Centering Pregnancy particularly benefits minorities, with some researchers stating that it can decrease the racial inequalities in relation to parental access and maternal mortality.
It even has benefits among adolescent mothers, helping prenatal visit compliance and appropriate weight gain. After delivery, studies show an increase in the number of adolescents who opt to breastfeed as well as increased usage of effective contraception.
Want to Sign Up for Centering Pregnancy Classes? Let Us Know!
We care for you through every aspect of your pregnancy. Centering Pregnancy is one way that we offer support, encouragement, and even better medical outcomes for our expectant mothers.
This type of multifaceted care represents all that we are at Chapel Hill OBGYN: A practice that provides access to leading medical centers while still maintaining the personalized treatment you experience at smaller practices.
Ready to get started? Simply contact us for an appointment.
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Centering Pregnancy Institute, “About Us,” https://centeringhealthcare.org/about
Moyett JM, Ramey-Collier K, Zambrano Guevara LM, MacDonald A, Kuller JA, Wheeler SM, Dotters-Katz SK. CenteringPregnancy: A Review of Implementation and Outcomes. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2023 Aug;78(7):490-499. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37594439/
Trotman G, Chhatre G, Darolia R, Tefera E, Damle L, Gomez-Lobo V. The Effect of Centering Pregnancy versus Traditional Prenatal Care Models on Improved Adolescent Health Behaviors in the Perinatal Period. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2015 Oct;28(5):395-401. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2014.12.003. Epub 2014 Dec 23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26233287/
Liu Y, Wang Y, Wu Y, Chen X, Bai J. Effectiveness of the Centering Pregnancy program on maternal and birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021 Aug;120:103981. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103981. Epub 2021 May 20. PMID: 34098451. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34098451/#:~:text=Findings%20showed%20that%20the%20CenteringPregnancy,%2C%20I2%20%3D%2069%25).
