Centering is coming to Fort Worth! No, it's not a yoga pose. It is actually a method of maternity care. I hope this post explains the Centering program and you will be as excited as I am.
Centering is typically done by midwives -- at least I haven't heard of any OBs doing it. In very simple terms, it's group prenatal care. Often, "patients" have the option of doing their prenatal appointments in this manner where it is offered. If a woman chooses to "center" she'll be put in a group with other women who are due about the same time or month, depending on the size of the practice.
The women arrive at the same time at the clinic, birth center, or office. They will each weigh themselves, as well chart their own blood pressure and do their own "pee stick." This puts their health care directly in their own hands. Then, each will have a couple of minutes with the midwife to measure fundal height and listen to the baby. The midwife will typically ask if she has anything she wants to talk about that is too personal for the group. If not, she goes to the circle and waits for the other women to join the group.
The group usually sits in a circle. It is not a classroom by any means! There will usually be a topic, such as the size of the baby, typical pregnancy symptoms, etc. Your midwife is sitting eye to eye with the group. This puts her on a different level with her clients. She has the opportunity to get to know these women in a very different setting than a provider-patient setting.
Because less than 1/4 of pregnant women take a childbirth class, this also meets a need -- whether they know it or not! -- to become educated on the process of labor and birth. This is very empowering to have this knowledge. Many women find that the fears they previously felt about giving birth are replaced with excitement and anticipation.
The group cheers each other on. They become a resource and support for one another. The midwife may not know the best place to buy a nursing bra, but I bet someone in the group does!
The appointments run about an hour in length. 94% of women who have centered say they would do it again. From a business standpoint, this is such a smart model. It saves the midwife hours in her day. Centering groups are usually made up of 8-12 women. From the consumer standpoint, women are not sitting in a waiting room and then only getting their provider's attention for a few minutes each month.
The UNT Midwives are beginning Centering in August. There are midwives practicing Centering all over the country, with great success. I expect we will start seeing more and more of this trend. It's a good thing and I am grateful it has found its way to Fort Worth!
No comments: