Georgetown Hospital System
P.O. Box 421718
Georgetown, SC 29442
Nonprofit Org.
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Georgetown Hospital
System
Boy or girl?
Whether you have a boy or a girl, it’s
best to be prepared! Look inside for
ways to ensure a healthy pregnancy—
and a healthy baby. We’ve also
hidden a onesie somewhere in this
issue. Tell us where you found it,
and you can enter a drawing for a
Visa gi card. Tell us and enter at
www.georgetownhospitalsystem.org/visagi cardgiveaway
.
It’s
been said that it takes
a village to raise a child, and
it just may take a group of
women to help the mother
of that child have a healthier
pregnancy, according to a new
philosophy of prenatal care
that empowers women to
take a larger role in their care.
Centering
Pregnancy® incorporates health
assessment, education and support for pregnant
Get centered with
group care
“Centering promotes better health outcomes, self-
care, more time with the provider, self-con dence,
support and friendship, learning and fun,” she
says.
Centering
Pregnancy groups include eight to
12 women in similar stages of pregnancy who
participate in 10 sessions throughout their term and
early postpartum.
Overall,
Centering
Pregnancy is associated with
reduced preterm birth and low birth weight and
increased patient and provider satisfaction.
“Carolina OB/GYN will be one of three
practices in the state to take part in the Centering
program,” Vierela says. “Participating in Centering
activities encourages women to take control of
their health, which ultimately leads to better
health outcomes.”
e program also makes e ective use of provider
time and o ers an enjoyable experience for those
who are involved. For more information about
Centering
Pregnancy, contact Carolina OB/GYN at
843-651-6525
.
women into a group setting in which patients are
encouraged to share their own experiences and
support one another.
“Essentially, Centering is group prenatal care,”
says Anne Vierela, CNM, a nurse-midwife with
Carolina OB/GYN. “We empower women to take
a more active role in their own health care. ey
check their own blood pressure, dip their own
urine and measure their own weight. en, each
woman will meet with the provider and review
their records. e provider will listen to their baby
and measure their belly. Most importantly, women
understand what we are looking for and why we are
measuring certain parameters. ey are invited, but
not required, to bring one actively involved support
person to each Centering session. e group will
then meet to participate in education about their
stage of pregnancy. We also include nutritional
support, breastfeeding information and baby care.
Guest speakers at any given session may include a
pediatrician, a nutritionist or a lactation consultant.”
Vierela promotes the bene ts of the
Centering
Pregnancy model to her patients.
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CMYK / .ai
Anne
Vierela, CNM
