CenteringPregnancy is more than just a check-up. It’s a pre-natal care model that brings expecting parents together in a group setting, creating a sense of community while receiving comprehensive medical care.

• The pregnant individual and their partner/support person come together in a group format with other expecting parents with due dates in the same month.

• The groups can range anywhere from three to four to 12 dyads.

• Starting around the 16th week of pregnancy, the group meets monthly for four sessions, then every two weeks for a total of 10 sessions. Additional one-on-one appointments can be incorporated, if needed.

• Each session is two hours long.

Our program focuses on high quality pregnancy care, education and building social connections.

High quality pregnancy care:

• Receive the same medical care as you would during traditional visits, with designated one-on-one time with a provider at each session. InterMed clinicians will monitor the health of your pregnancy and review individual concerns. We follow all the same guidelines and standards as traditional care. Centering is approved by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), March of Dimes and National Institute of Health (NIH). We recommend the Centering Pregnancy Institute as a great resource.

Education

• Learn about your pregnancy from each other and a range of InterMed clinicians. Each two-hour Centering session has designated educational topics and activities. Centering is group-led, and participants help set educational goals. Questions are welcome and encouraged. We will also host guest speakers from the following areas:

  • Physical therapy, to discuss back and pelvic floor health in pregnancy.

  • Pediatrics, to answer questions around those first few months at home with your newborn, vaccines recommendations, sleep safety and more.

  • Behavioral health, to provide education around pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders.

  • Lactation, to educate about the benefits and techniques of breastfeeding, breast pump choice, assembly and more. Please note, the decision to breastfeed is not a requirement for Centering!

  • Delivery planning, one session is conducted at Maine Medical Center, where we will tour the delivery unit and have time for your birth plan questions.

  • Other guest speakers can be invited based on the educational goals of the group.

Social connection

• Enjoy this time to connect and develop relationships with others embarking on their pregnancy and parenting journey. Many past group members have continued these valuable relationships into the postpartum period and beyond. We also meet one time postpartum to share delivery experiences and meet the babies!

• Personalized Care. You’ll still have time with your InterMed clinician to discuss your pregnancy.
• Community Support. Share your experiences, concerns and joys with other parents-to-be in a comfortable group setting.
• Education and Empowerment. Learn more about pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care through interactive discussions led by healthcare professionals.
• Convenient Appointments: Group sessions are scheduled in advance, so you can incorporate them into your life.

CenteringPregnancy is open to all InterMed expecting parents. Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, you’ll find a welcoming community ready to share in your journey.

The first InterMed CenteringPregnancy Group will begin in January 2025 for patients with due dates in July. A new group will be formed each month.

CenteringPregnancy is a choice at InterMed for your obstetrics care. We will begin the conversation about this program when you call our office to let us know you are pregnant. You will be offered the choice between traditional one-on-one pregnancy care or CenteringPregnancy group care.

You will have two other routine contact points to discuss if Centering is for you: A visit with a nurse practitioner at approximately seven to eight weeks (follows dating and viability ultrasound) and a new OB appointment at 10-13 weeks with an InterMed physician. These are both standard appointments for all our pregnant patients and are excellent opportunities to discuss if CenteringPregnancy is for you.

If at any time you decide that group care is not for you, you can easily shift to one-on-one care.