Yellowknife prenatal program offers support in numbers

A pilot prenatal program in Yellowknife is delivering new support for expecting parents, and could lead to healthier outcomes for mothers and babies.

Unlike mostprenatal appointments usually short, one-on-one consultationsYellowknife's Centering Pregnancy Programinvolvegroups of expecting parents(all due around the same time) meeting together with health care practitioners.

"Oh my word,"was Vanessa Frers initial reaction during her first such prenatal class in December. "We are sitting in a group, awkwardly."

But Frers' reservations, and theawkwardness, didn't last long. She's now 25 weeks into her pregnancy and enjoying the program.

"It's been really neat to learn all the different parts of pregnancy with these other women. You kind of walk out less scared of what to expect."

The program'spatient-centred model was developed in the United Statesby the Centering Health Institute.There are now more than 400 Centering Pregnancy Programs being offered in the U.S.,with a "healthy handful" of themin Canada, according to the Institute.

Extra time and support

The program prides itself onoffering women space for discussion and peer support. Participants are expected to helpset the agenda.

"Normal symptoms for the stage in pregnancy, signs of pre-term labour, breastfeeding, supports during labourall those sorts of things," saidYellowknife family physician Katie Kohle.

"But within the sessions it is the women themselves who set the priorities for how in-depth they want to get."

During the two-hour monthly meetings (bi-weekly, later in pregnancy), women take their care into their own hands by recording their weight and blood pressure. There's also private time with a nurse or doctor for belly checks and listening to the baby's heart beat.

The Centering Health Institute says under the program,mothers get "10times" more time with their healthcare provider. According to Kohle, there's greater opportunity for connection.

"I have gotten to know the patients that I am helping to care for a little bit better than I do in usual care," she said.

Some research has suggested that suchextra time and support has measurable impact aYale University clinical trial found the program reduced the risk ofpre-termbirth by 33 per cent. Other research showsreduced rates of postpartum depression, and increased breastfeeding. Such resultssavethe U.S. health care system millions of dollars, according to theCentering Healthcare Institute.

In total, there are 18 participants in the Yellowknife pilot, with six more starting a new group this month. The goal is to continue to enroll 10 to12 women and their partners or support people, each month.