SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – The March of Dimes is showing its support for a new option in prenatal care offered by Regional West Physicians Clinic-Women’s Center.

For the second year in a row, The Women’s Center was awarded a grant from the March of Dimes Foundation to support its Centering Pregnancy program.

The $2,600 grant will be used to purchase materials and supplies.

Centering Pregnancy is a new option in prenatal care. Women who choose the centering pregnancy program join a small group of expectant mothers that meets with an OB provider for regularly scheduled group prenatal sessions instead of traditional one-on-one prenatal appointments. Each session is two hours long and includes check-ups, support and education.

The centering pregnancy program is one of three prenatal care options available at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Women’s Center. Patients may also choose the classic rotation through the clinic’s health care providers, or midwifery.

The new program is led by OB-GYN Dorisa Polk, MD; nurse practitioner Jade Malcolm, RN, APRN-NP; and midwife Mary Tompkins, APRN-NP, CNM. Although the concept is new to western Nebraska, it was developed nearly 20 years ago. Research shows that participants have fewer pre-term deliveries and a lower rate of complications, such as low birth weight babies. The improved outcomes are attributed to the program’s emphasis on education and the additional amount of time patients spend with providers.

Centering Pregnancy groups meet for two hours, once a month for the first seven months; then members meet every two weeks for the remainder of their pregnancies. Jade Malcolm leads each meeting, with assistance from either Dr. Polk or Mary Tompkins. The group appointments allow more time to talk about health issues, ask questions, and learn about pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and parenting.

Dr. Polk believes the improved pregnancy outcomes are related to the time and education devoted to the program.

“We have time to communicate the labor process better and to talk about things patients have control over,” said Dr. Polk. “If one person has a question, chances are someone else has the same question. This format allows them all to hear the same answer at the same time and they have time to absorb the information.”

Sessions are held in a large meeting room and snacks are provided. Physical assessments are done in a private exam area, but moms-to-be take their own blood pressure, weight, and other measurements and record them to help them monitor and learn more about their own pregnancy.

To date, 38 expectant mothers have participated in six sessions. Twelve women have signed up to start a Centering Pregnancy group in February.

“So far, we have had 100 percent positive feedback on the program, and one woman from our first group also participated in the program for the birth of her second child,” said Malcolm. “Just three mothers out of all our participants have had C-sections and there were only two pre-term deliveries.”

For more information about centering pregnancy, call Regional West Physicians Clinic-Women’s Center, 308.635.3303.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, Regional West offers care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in Nebraska.