Anyone done group prenatal care?

mrsebright

The midwife practice that I'm using is now offering group prenatal care and while I'm intrigued, I don't know if it is worth the time - each group appointment is a two hour block.

Basically you are put in a group with other mothers due around your EDD and it is a combo of education, support group and the midwives checking out each individual one by one while everyone is meeting.

I'm a second time mom, also second time at this birth center, so I'm not sure if there is a benefit to this for me (other than meeting other moms).

Anyone have any experience with this? Like it? Hate it? Thanks in advance!

tokenhoser

That would not appeal to me, but I'm not really a "joiner", I'm not anxious while pregnant, I don't have many questions at my appointments, and I don't want to spend that much time on appointments.

mrsebright

Token,

I'm exactly the same way. Group activities generally make me cringe but I'm wondering if my aversion to "group sharing time" might make me miss out on something. 

tokenhoser

Nah. You'll miss out on hearing "can I eat lunch meat?".

cecilyandgautam

I'm wondering if you're talking about the same place I tried for a few sessions. It did not work out for me - 2 hours for an 8 minute check up with the midwife that had no privacy - she talked to me on one side of the room while the others met in a circle on the other side of the table. Not even a room divider for some visual privacy. 

Also the location/time was difficult for me - I had to be away from my desk for a 4 hour chunk in order to make the appointments.

Also, the discussion seemed to go over some very basic information so if you're already well-read on nutrition, natural birth, which OTCs to avoid during pregnancy, that smoking is bad, etc then it'll be too remedial for you.  

jellybeanjean

tokenhoser:

That would not appeal to me, but I'm not really a "joiner", I'm not anxious while pregnant, I don't have many questions at my appointments, and I don't want to spend that much time on appointments.

This.  Totally, exactly this.

jellybeanjean

tokenhoser:

That would not appeal to me, but I'm not really a "joiner", I'm not anxious while pregnant, I don't have many questions at my appointments, and I don't want to spend that much time on appointments.

This.  Totally, exactly this.

nosoup4u

I like the idea of it in theory (being with a group of women whose babies are the same age as mine), but everyone's descriptions of it make it sound sorta painful!

 

mrsebright

Thanks y'all.

I'm going to go with my gut and stick with normal appointments.

I did do some reading about how group prenatal care actually does help birth outcomes, but that seems to be in cohorts that have less than optimal outcomes to begin with. While I think it could be a great option for some people, it's not really necessary for me, especially as a second time mom.

danuli8

I tried it. I liked the social element of it, and they had invited guest speakers (a doula came to one appointment and we got to try on different slings and babywearing gear), but it was just too damn early for me. I had to get up at 6 AM to make the 8-10 AM block. If it had been in the afternoons, I might have stuck with it.

KBeaut

I'm doing it now and LOVE it.  I'm not usually a "group activities" person, but I have really enjoyed this.  So far, there haven't been any stupid questions (no lunch meat, stuff like that), they've all been really interesting comments.  

The first half hour, we all have private appointments with the midwife to check out the baby's heartbeat and all that.  She always does them in her office, while we meet in another room (I would also be totally creeped out if they did the exam with people watching).  That way we all get one-on-one time to ask private questions.  

Then the next hour and half is a class.  Our last one was on breastfeeding (or FF, but we were all planning to breast feed so they didn't say much about it), and I found it really informative.  The next four sessions are birth classes - we tour the hospital, and then cover things like pain management techniques.  They talk a lot about coping measures for people who want to give birth without pain medication, but there is a whole section on available meds as well.

 I am a FTM, but I am finding it really helpful.