Murrells Inlet, SC–Carolina OB/GYN, South Carolina’s first physician-owned medical practice to become credentialed and offer the award-winning Centering Pregnancy program, has received a $5,000 grant from Centering Healthcare Institute. The grant enables Carolina OB/GYN to resume Centering Pregnancy programs through the Zoom platform. In-person Centering classes were suspended mid-March due to COVID-19.
The grant has been used to purchase a laptop, a one-year subscription to Zoom, and various home assessment products that allow moms-to-be to track basic vitals including, weight, urine analysis, and blood pressure.
Centering Pregnancy is a model of care that provides enhanced education, support, and health care for a group of women who are due to have babies at the same time. The prenatal appointments and content follow nationally recognized guidelines with the flexibility to explore health and wellness topics that fit the group’s needs. This approach to providing care has been shown to decrease preterm birth in high-risk patients. Centering patients are also more likely to breastfeed and report satisfaction with their care.
“Our Zoom sessions allow members to still enjoy the community and educational benefits of Centering amid the pandemic,” said Anne Vierela, one of Carolina OB/GYN’s three certified nurse-midwives.
“The sessions provide a supportive environment to ask questions, offer and receive advice, and share the joys and concerns of other expectant mothers,” said midwife, Jessica Bentley.
“In short, Zoom Centering enables expectant moms to stay connected during one of the most important times of their lives,” concluded Becca Cartledge, a midwife with Carolina OB/GYN.
Carolina OB/GYN is currently conducting three separate Centering Zoom groups, which meet every other week for a total of eight online sessions. “Response from our soon-to-be moms has been overwhelming,” said Anne Vierela, Certified Nurse Midwife, Carolina OBGYN.
Centering was introduced to Horry and Georgetown Counties in 2013 by Dr. Gayle Richmond, Founder of Carolina OB/GYN. To date, more than 600 women have participated in Carolina OB/GYN’s Centering program with many women choosing Centering with each of their pregnancies.
For more information on participating in Centering Pregnancy via Zoom, contact Anne Vierela at Carolina OB/GYN – (843) 651-6525.
About Carolina OB/GYN
Compassionate Care for Women by Women. For over 30 years, Carolina OB/GYN has provided women of Horry and Georgetown Counties with the area’s best and most and advanced OB/GYN care. Since its founding in 1988 by Dr. Gayle Richmond, the practice has grown to include three locations, five female board-certified physicians and three certified nurse-midwives. Learn more at CarolinaOBGYN.com
Leave a Reply