Centering

Each group is made up of up to 12 women/couples due to deliver within the same month. There are 10 session, each 2 hours long. Meeting times are known in advance and we will provide you will a letter to present to your employer to request the time off work. Approximately 30 minutes will be spent checking your own weight and BP, belly checks and fetal heart tone checks with the midwife, and social time with snacks. The rest of the time will be spent in a group setting discussing what is important to you. Topics include:

• Childbirth preparation
• Normal pregnancy changes and common discomforts
• Nutrition
• Infant feeding
• Contraception
• Infant care

No. Centering groups are billed the same as traditional one-on-one prenatal visits so your coverage will be the same as if you were having traditional care. The only additional cost to you is a nominal cost to for the Centering materials.

The schedule for Centering groups is the same as individual care. We will meet monthly for the first 4 groups and then every 2 weeks for a total of ten groups. Occasionally we have to alter the time interval due to holidays. After 36 weeks you will be seen weekly so every other week will be an individual appointment.  We will meet once more for a reunion once everyone has delivered. 

Maybe not. We strive to have the same midwife and staff facilitator at all 10 group meetings. Occasionally that is not possible due to illness, vacation, or continuing education so you may have a substitute. You will have the opportunity to meet different midwives at your initial OB appointment, if you are having any problems between groups or cannot attend a scheduled Centering group, and when you start being seen weekly at the end of your pregnancy.

However, even with individual care it is sometimes difficult to meet all the providers.  We try our best to make you feel comfortable and typically we bond very quickly over your labor and the excitement of your birth.

You will make an appointment for a traditional one-on-one visit that will take the place of the group you will miss. If you know that you will have to miss several groups, it might make more sense for you to have traditional care. 

We are happy to see you for an individual problem visit if needed between Centering groups. 

No. Childcare is not provided so no children under 13 are to attend Centering groups. We will provide you with the dates of all 10 of your scheduled groups so you can arrange childcare if you wish to participate in Centering. 

Absolutely!  Due to space we ask that you only bring one person and we encourage you to bring the same person to each group if possible.  If they cannot stay for the entire time, they can come for the beginning to hear the baby’s heartbeat and ask the midwife questions. 

Please call our office (919-678-6900) and ask for more information about Centering and someone will contact you by phone to discuss your questions. You could also commit to attending the first two groups and then decide….you will probably want to stay!