regnancy can be a trying time, even under the best of
circumstances. For women who are poor or perhaps not fluent in English,
it can be incredibly isolating. It is for those women that
CenteringPregnancy was established at the San Francisco General Hospital
and Trauma Center (SFGH). The program combines support and education
with the medical assessment aspect of prenatal care.
Participants in CenteringPregnancy receive care in a group setting with other women who are all due around the same time rather than traditional one-on-one visits with their provider. Women learn self-care, such as taking their own vital signs, and participate in group discussions about issues related to pregnancy and parenting. The group helps ease the stress and anxiety that often is a natural part of pregnancy. When they hear from others who have had the same experiences, they think maybe there’s not something so wrong with them. The group also addresses personal topics, such as domestic violence or relationship issues, that can be so difficult to face alone.
One of the best aspects of CenteringPregnancy is the sense of respect it conveys to the women. In this model-10 two-hour sessions-the women are engaged in activities from the minute they walk in the door. They take their blood pressure, engage in discussion or perhaps see a midwife for an exam. They get the feeling they can create positive change in their own lives.
The CenteringPregnancy program at SFGH is one of 12 throughout the Bay Area, and the first to open outside the Northeast. Since it began in 1999, the program has seen more than 500 women. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with nearly all the participants saying they would choose CenteringPregnancy again over traditional care. The ultimate goal is to send women home from the hospital not just with healthy babies, but also with friends they can call as they move into parenting. CenteringPregnancy has been a powerful experience for many of the women and families it touches.
