Believe Midwifery Services

 CenteringPregnancy is a model for group prenatal care very similar to Believe's prenatal care model.  Basic prenatal assessment, informal sharing with other women and discussion concerning childbearing and mothering content are the focus of every session.  Groups are led by a Nurse Midwife, who also coordinates the assessment component, with a Registered Nurse assisting.  The Registered Nurse will later become the birth assistant within your homebirth.

Each session has an overall plan, although emphasis varies within each group depending on group needs.  Opportunity for socialization and building of relationships is provided.  Women are involved in self-care activities through checking their own blood pressures, weight, urine dip sticks and recording this within their own medical records.  An oversized binder and tote-bag will be provided for personal documentation of your pregnancy growth, journaling and compiling the vast amount of reading material accumulated within the group.

Knowledge is shared by each member with each group gathering in a circle.  The Nurse Midwife offers evidence-based knowledge in a facilitating manner.  Families quickly bond without any sense of embarrassment.  Problems and concerns are shared and, as a group, solutions are discovered and friendships are formed.  Participants leave group encouraged and empowered.

Benefits for each family include the ability to recognize and share similar experiences, common concerns, and discomforts with women of their similar gestation.  Families are then able to make necessary adjustments within themselves, their close relationsihps, and their more extended family as they determine necessary - all within the support of their newly developed community.

Increasingly homebirth families are facing serious cultural challenges, espeically concerning natural childbirth and breastfeeding.  Participation in a group allows for evaluation of personal convictions, development of insight and motivation to learn and create change.  Mutual support and encouragement naturally develops through group sharing, eliminating any sense of isolation mothers often feel while pregnant.

This prenatal model offers an intense level of learning concerning all aspects of childbearing and parenting, empowering each family to make decisions that best suit their individual needs.  Problem-solving skills are developed within a fun and interesting learning environment.  Overwhelmingly, families favor the care provided within prenatal groups, while evidence continues to support the benefit on pregnancy health outcomes.

Each groups meets together for approximately two hours for a total of ten sessions through pregnancy and early postpartum.  Support persons are encouraged to attend.  Childcare will be provided during each session in effort to decrease distraction from group participation.  A small donation for the caregiver's time and care is greatly appreciated.

The pattern, although flexible, for each session is: risk assessment, education, refreshments and socializing, risk assessment and education.  The session outlines are further detailed below; however, assessment with the Nurse Midwife includes physical, psychosocial and self assessment.  Physical exams, laboratory tests, counseling and plan of care are discussed prior to entering the group.

Self assessment is facilitated by the use of worksheets prepared for each session, which is then added to your personal prenatal binder/journal.  These help women to focus on particular issues and provide a stimulus for group discussion.  Worksheets are designed for use by partners and other support persons, allowing them to contribute and increase thier sense of inclusion in the childbearing process.

Education is offered within each session with some points heavily emphasized within one session and other running throughout the program.  Points of particular discussion are: nutrition for pregnancy, lactation and early infant care; exercise for physical and psychological well-being; warning signs for pregnancy problems; preparation for childbirth; breastfeeding basics; newborn care; parenting techniques and self-esteem building; postpartum issues including family planning and postpartum depression; personal and relationship issues, sexuality and communication; as well as any additional needs identified within each group.  Multimedia, posters, models, handouts, and guest speakers will assist with the presentation of these content areas.

Social support is an integral part of each prenatal session.  Families often appreciate the diverse discussion among like-minded families concerning alternative birth and parenting choices.  Members may share their addresses and phone numbers with others.  Effort is further made to acquaint women with community resources available to assist them.

The February 2008 prenatal group standing in front of their baby's foot prints on the office wall.

Forever Friendships are Created in Group Prenatals