{"id":39308,"date":"2026-05-01T07:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T07:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=39308"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:19:09","slug":"group-prenatal-care-helps-expectant-parents-build-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/group-prenatal-care-helps-expectant-parents-build-community\/","title":{"rendered":"MultiCare CenteringPregnancy programs help expectant parents build community","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy is a major life transition \u2014 it can bring moments of joy and awe, as well as feelings of uncertainty or discomfort. Navigating the many physical and emotional changes that come with this transition can be isolating, even for those who have an established support network.<\/p>\n

CenteringPregnancy is a group prenatal care model designed to combat that sense of isolation by bringing expectant parents together for community, learning and support.<\/p>\n

In 2025, MultiCare launched two CenteringPregnancy programs at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic \u2013 OB\/GYN & Midwifery Center<\/a> and MultiCare Capital Women\u2019s Health<\/a>, adding to an existing program at the MultiCare Family Medicine Center<\/a> in Tacoma. All three programs are accredited by the CenteringHealthcare Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really personally and professionally satisfying to provide prenatal care in this way,\u201d says Melissa Graham, ARNP, CNM, a board-certified nurse-midwife<\/a> at MultiCare Capital Women\u2019s Health<\/a>. \u201cI really enjoy watching participants engage with each other and seeing the camaraderie that develops.\u201d<\/p>\n

How CenteringPregnancy works<\/h2>\n

Traditional prenatal care typically involves one-on-one appointments between pregnant patients and their doctor or midwife. While CenteringPregnancy follows the same recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits, what sets this approach apart is the group setting.<\/p>\n

A Centering group typically consists of eight to 10 patients with similar due dates (usually within the same month). Groups are open to patients\u2019 partners as well. At the start of each session, expectant moms take their own weight and blood pressure and then visit briefly one-on-one with a midwife facilitator for a routine health assessment.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring these check-ins, we measure patients\u2019 bellies, listen to the baby\u2019s heart rate and ensure patients are up to date on routine screenings \u2014 everything they would get at a traditional prenatal care appointment,\u201d Graham says. \u201cIf anything beyond that is needed, or if they have something they want to discuss privately, then we make a separate appointment.\u201d<\/p>\n

After individual check-ins, participants come together as a group for interactive activities and facilitated discussions. Centering groups talk through a wide range of topics, including common pregnancy challenges, nutrition, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum care, and newborn care.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really powerful to bring people together in person to have these discussions,\u201d Graham says. \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity to help dispel some of the misinformation about pregnancy and labor that you find in online forums and social media.\u201d<\/p>\n

Graham shares that this benefit extends to patients\u2019 partners too.<\/p>\n

\u201cPartners are often mostly concerned about getting to the hospital on time,\u201d she says. \u201cBut Centering gives them the opportunity to be more involved and learn how to support their partners during labor and the postpartum period.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy is a major life transition \u2014 it can bring moments of joy and awe, as well as feelings of uncertainty or discomfort. Navigating the many physical and emotional changes that come with this transition can be isolating, even for those who have an established support network. CenteringPregnancy is a group prenatal care model designed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":367,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,79,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-community","category-profiles-stories","category-womens-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGroup prenatal care helps expectant parents build community - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"MultiCare\u2019s CenteringPregnancy programs combat isolation by bringing expectant parents together for group prenatal care, education and support.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/group-prenatal-care-helps-expectant-parents-build-community\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Group prenatal care helps expectant parents build community - 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