Centering Pregnancy Care
Centering Pregnancy Care
CenteringPregnancy® is evidence-based prenatal care offered by University of Michigan Health, providing family-centered care in group settings that help pregnant people and families support one another during their pregnancy and into early childhood. The CenteringPregnancy care model is a national movement that brings pregnant people due at around the same time out of the isolation of the exam room and into a comfortable group setting to support complete prenatal care.
Our Approach
Families participating in our program will participate in small group sessions with 6–8 other pregnant people experiencing stages of the pregnancy journey at approximately the same time. Groups are led by trusted U-M Health providers and are designed with a focus on creating a safe and supportive environment to ask questions and creating lifelong bonds between families.
Centering group prenatal care follows the recommended schedule of 10 prenatal visits. Each visit is 90 minutes to two hours long. Pregnant people engage in their care by taking their own weight and blood pressure and recording their own health data. Each pregnant person also receives private time with their provider for belly checks.
Once health assessments are complete, pregnant people and their support partners gather in a group alongside health care providers who lead conversations and interactive activities addressing important and timely health topics, as well as group-led areas of interest. Your group will cover topics ranging from nutrition, common discomforts, and stress management to labor and delivery, breastfeeding and infant care.
Benefits of CenteringPregnancy Care
- More time with your provider – Pregnant people benefit from up to 10x more time with their provider through the group-based sessions each person participates in.
- Support and friendship – Sharing experiences with other pregnant people provides a powerful opportunity to support one another during an exciting but also stressful time of life, often creating lasting friendships that support families long after childbirth.
- Self-care and self-confidence – Centering is based on the proven principle that when people are actively engaged and involved in a discussion with their peers, they feel more empowered and informed about their health and their baby’s health. Centering pregnant people are confident about their preparedness for labor, delivery and caring for their infant.
Appointment Information
CenteringPregnancy prenatal care is currently offered at East Ann Arbor Health Center and West Ann Arbor Health Center. For more information about receiving your prenatal care through our CenteringPregnancy® program, call 734-763-6295.
Frequently Asked Questions
CenteringPregnancy groups meet on a regular schedule at both East and West Ann Arbor Health Centers.
- East Ann Arbor Health Center (Fridays): Noon, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m.
- West Ann Arbor Health Center (Thursdays): 9 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
Groups typically meet once a month in early pregnancy and then every two weeks later in pregnancy.
Your exact group time will be determined based on your due date and the cohort you are placed in.
CenteringPregnancy group care serves as your prenatal visits and the full 90 minutes is your health care appointment. While it is longer than a standard visit, there is no waiting room time, the appointment will always start and end on time, and you will know all of your appointment dates ahead of time.
Many patients find that being able to plan in advance and start their visit right away makes scheduling time off easier.
Yes. CenteringPregnancy provides your prenatal care in a group setting with your provider, and most of your routine prenatal needs can be met through Centering. However, if you need or prefer individual appointments with a doctor at any point in your pregnancy, those can be scheduled as well.
Yes. CenteringPregnancy serves as your prenatal care and replaces your routine in-office appointments. Your provider ensures that all standard prenatal care is met during your group sessions.
If you need labs, prescriptions, or ultrasounds, they will be ordered for you just as they would be in traditional care, and the results will be shared with you privately. Many patients find that discussing tests, medications, and prenatal care topics in the group setting helps them better understand their care and feel more supported throughout pregnancy.
Yes. CenteringPregnancy is covered by private insurance plans as well as Medicaid. Your charges and/or copays are the same as traditional care and are determined by your insurance coverage.
Coverage can vary by individual plan so, if you have questions about your benefits or out-of-pocket costs, our team can help you review your insurance and estimate expenses.
CenteringPregnancy appointments are 90 minutes long. The first 30 minutes are spent doing individual health assessments with your provider, socializing and enjoying refreshments. The remaining hour is spent in group discussion on a variety of pregnancy and health topics.
Common discomforts
Nutrition
Exercise and relaxation
Baby feeding
Labor and birth
Postpartum recovery/Mental health
Newborn care
Locations
-
Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic | East Ann Arbor Health & Geriatrics Center 4260 Plymouth Rd
Level 1
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2700Get Directions -
Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinic | West Ann Arbor Health Center-Parkland Plaza 380 Parkland Plaza Ste 110
Floor 1
Ann Arbor, MI 48103-6201Get Directions -
Women's Clinic | Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital 1540 E Hospital Dr
Floor 9
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-4276Get Directions
Providers
Mary Margaret Milkey, CNM
Advanced Practice Nurse
Midwife-Certified Nurse
Melisa Nicole Scott, CNM
Advanced Practice Nurse
Midwife-Certified Nurse
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