Centering Pregnancy

Centering pregnancy

Care revolves around the patient

Story by LISA SAVAGE

When Christy Martin first heard about Centering Pregnancy, it seemed like a neat concept. Now, as Walterboro Obstetrics and Gynecology celebrates one year of the Centering Pregnancy program, she sees the statistics that back up its success and loves it even more.

Instead of traditional doctor visits, “centering” provides a comfortable group setting for pregnancy patients at Walterboro OBGYN, where Martin is a nurse practitioner. She and Courtney Araneo, licensed practical nurse, coordinate the program, and both women work directly with the patients.

The program’s success in the Upstate inspired the Walterboro group to give it a try. They patterned it after Dr. Amy Crockett’s model in Greenville. “We use her video to let people learn more about the program,” Martin says. “We’re one of the few doing it in the Lowcountry.”

HOW IT WORKS

Patients receive an assignment to a group, based on their due dates. There are typically eight to 10 patients in one group. Meetings begin at about 16 weeks and continue throughout the pregnancy. When a patient goes in for a visit, she weighs herself, monitors her blood pressure and sees the medical provider if necessary to listen to the baby’s heartbeat and other one-on-one assessments. “We meet in a group, seated in a circle, and talk about whatever topic someone wants to talk about,” Martin says. “It’s not lecturing, but it’s the patients teaching each other. It’s amazing how they bond with each other.”

Rhonyai Brown, a patient in the Centering Pregnancy program, Josh Broughton and baby Harmony An’yai Broughton.

It’s rewarding for Martin, too. She believes it improves the relationship between her and her patients. Each group meets for about two hours. “It gives us more time with the patients so we can learn more about them and get to know them,” she says.

When they’re not with the group, patients can communicate directly with their health care team using the healow Mom app, through which expecting moms can track their pregnancies, access their medical records and communicate with their providers through secured messages.

It also enables moms to access educational materials, videos and more.

Christy Martin, left, and Courtney Araneo, lead Centering Pregnancy, a program at Walterboro Obstetrics and Gynecology. Statistics show the program helps lead to healthier babies.

MORE HEALTHY BABIES

Centering Pregnancy is an evidencebased model of group prenatal care that improves maternal and child health outcomes and reduces health disparities, Martin says. The program has been proven to reduce preterm birth rates, eliminate racial disparities and lower neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Its success prompted the March of Dimes to provide grants for programs across the country.

“They haven’t been able to pinpoint exactly why’s it working and decreasing preterm labor, but they’ve related it to the support with the women getting together and bonding through the process,” Martin says. “It’s making a difference, and the success is evident.”