Patients participating in group prenatal care appointments find community and wellness.

The break room in LCH’s (La Comunidad Hispana) Women’s Health Center was filled with holiday music, crafts and laughter as a cohort of moms-to-be, currently in their first trimester, met for their second session, 16-18 week appointment last week.  LCH kicked off Centering Pregnancy in July 2019 and is currently providing this model of group prenatal care to about twenty-five women.

Teri Noone, CNM, LCH Certified Nurse Midwife, said that the program is a perfect fit for her patients. “We serve a lot of women that may not have a lot of social and emotional support at home. This program creates a space to build community with fellow pregnant women that are going through the same life changes that you are.” The social component of the prenatal visit is intertwined into the two-hour group health appointment, which includes vitals checks for mom and baby, consultations with the women’s health team, and informal presentations from LCH staff specialists in nutrition, mental health, and community resources. Noone co-facilitates the group appointments along with Lillian Gutierrez, RN.

LCH selected the national program because it is evidence-based and has proven to result in healthier outcomes for the patients and their babies. (Learn more about this model of care by visiting https://www.centeringhealthcare.org/).  The pilot at the LCH Women’s Health Center is currently being run in Spanish but LCH plans to expand to English sessions in the near future.  “We know the benefit of this model of care for all of our prenatal patients,” said Catherine Domanska Elliot, WHNP-BC, LCH Women’s Health Medical Director. “We have seen firsthand the benefits of creating a space for women as a group to receive care together and we are excited to see this program grow.”  LCH is currently accepting new patients.

LCH’s Women’s Health Center, is located at 105 Vineyard Drive in West Grove, PA. Visit our Women’s Health Center to learn about all of the health services that LCH provides to women of all ages in the community.