Centering for High-Risk Pregnancy & Gestational Diabetes

A new and innovative approach that can be offered to patients that will help them better manage their gestational diabetes and be satisfied with the healthcare provided during their pregnancy.

CenteringPregnancy® is an exciting way for women and their families to get prenatal care.  Women spend two hours with the healthcare provider at each visit.  In the sessions, patients will have private time with the provider.  However, the majority of check-ups, support, and education all take place in a group setting.  This gives the expectant mother a chance to learn a lot more about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. 

 Centering is an evidence-based redesign of health care delivery that helps to promote:

• safety
• efficiency
• effectiveness
• timeliness
• more equitable care
• culturally appropriate patient-centered care

The design is based on peer-reviewed research that shows improved pregnancy outcomes and patient satisfaction when the Centering model is followed.

Nothing is more frightening to a patient than being diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy.  Unfortunately, due to higher rates of obesity, increasing numbers of pregnant women are being diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.  By offering Centering to women with   Gestational Diabetes, it gives women an alternative method of improving their pregnancy outcomes. 

In a group setting, they will learn how to manage their glucose levels, control weight gain, stay healthy through a diabetic diet and exercise and have access at every visit to a provider who specializes in managing high-risk pregnancies. 

Being in a group with other women with similar due dates will provide a support network.  The patients will still receive routine prenatal care in addition to the specialized care for gestational diabetes.

• Offers empowerment
• Increases patient satisfaction
• Improves pregnancy outcomes
• Can offer patients a culturally-sensitive group setting, such as Spanish-speaking groups
• Offers a support network that    often continues after pregnancy 
• Provides tools that the expectant mother can use in her community and future pregnancies

For information regarding the program or how to enroll your patient, please contact Dr. Shannon Clark or Dr. Sherri Taylor

 UC Davis Health System
4860 Y Street, Suite 2500
Sacramento, CA  95817

Telephone 916-734-6219
Facsimile 916-734-6666

Funded in part by a community grant from the March of Dimes: California Chapter