Editor’s note: Christie Clinic is a sponsor of Chambanamoms.
Women and their families in Champaign-Urbana have many options when choosing an OB/GYN. In addition to choosing a specific provider, women now have the option of choosing how they would like to receive their prenatal care.
Traditional prenatal care is a series of one-on-one office visit encounters between a woman and her provider throughout pregnancy and postpartum. These visits have a routine schedule consisting of assessments, testing, maternal support, and education. Another prenatal care option is CenteringPregnancy®, group prenatal care now offered at multiple facilities, including Christie Clinic.
CenteringPregnancy® is a nationally recognized model of group prenatal care, bringing together 8-12 women with similar due dates, their support person, and a healthcare team for their prenatal care. They meet for 10 sessions, each consisting of a two-hour prenatal visit, following the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American College of Nurse Midwives practice guidelines. The Centering model combines health assessments, interactive learning, and community building to help support positive health behaviors which result in better health outcomes. It brings patients out of the exam room and into a group setting which also helps build their community of support.
Due to Covid-19, CenteringPregnancy® at Christie Clinic is being hosted via Zoom. During the first part of each session, women participate in their care by obtaining and recording their weight and blood pressure. With remote sessions taking place, women will need to have a body scale and blood-pressure cuff at home to take their measurements. They will then have one-on-one visits with a provider, which are conducted through the breakout rooms via Zoom. Breakout rooms give moms-to-be the opportunity to ask the provider more personal questions.
The remainder of the session is a facilitated discussion that focuses on general topics related to pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Remote sessions are very similar to a telehealth appointment. Women can get the support they need from the comfort and safety of their own home. Centering moms can still come in for in-person visits when needed, including sonogram appointments.
Why Choose CenteringPregnancy®?
Better Health Outcomes: Increased rates of breastfeeding, reduced risk of preterm delivery, reduced rate of low birth weights.
Self-Care: You are actively engaged in your own healthcare.
Self-Confidence: Centering better prepares you for labor, delivery, and to care for your infant.
More time with a provider: Compared to women receiving traditional care, in Centering you will receive 10x more face-time with their provider.
Support and Friendship: A special sense of community develops within Centering groups. You will have the opportunity to support other expecting moms who are going through a similar experience. Fellow moms are a wonderful resource during this very exciting, yet stressful time.
Learning and Fun: Centering is fun and interactive! You are empowered to share and learn from others in the group.
Christie Clinic is excited to offer CenteringPregnancy! Moms-to-be can be enrolled at their first prenatal care visit in the Department of OB/GYN. More information, including Centering session schedules, can be found on the Christie Clinic OB/GYN website: obgyn.christieclinic.com or by calling the office at (217) 366-1255.