Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Expands Innovative Group Prenatal Program

(Elmsford, NY)  Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) is proud to announce the expansion of CenteringPregnancy, a unique and innovative style of prenatal care, to its Yonkers health center. PPHP has offered this community-centered prenatal care in its New Rochelle health center since 2022, and the organization is thrilled to be able to reach more expecting parents in Westchester County.

CenteringPregnancy aims is to build a community that empowers pregnant people to be actively involved in their own care and equips them to make healthy choices throughout their pregnancy and beyond.

Prenatal patients meet for 10 sessions with a Centering clinician (doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant) and group of up to 10-12 other pregnant people that are due around the same time. At each prenatal visit pregnant patients have one-on-one time with their Centering clinician to have their pregnancy monitored and to discuss any private concerns. This one-on-one time replaces a regular prenatal appointment. The remaining time is used for group discussion on pregnancy issues such as exercise, nutrition, reducing stress, signs of labor, breast (or chest) feeding, new baby care, and after delivery issues.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and CenteringPregnancy puts that sentiment directly into health care practice,” said Vincent Russell, President and CEO of PPHP. “Maternal health outcomes in the United States, especially for Black mothers, are abysmal. PPHP is proud to be a part of the solution with an evidence-based prenatal care option.”

“It’s exciting to be expanding this program that has such proven, positive results for maternal health,” said Kari Kohl, a midwife who runs CenteringPregnancy in PPHP’s New Rochelle health center. “Studies of CenteringPregnancy have shown that patients who participate in this model compared to traditional prenatal care have lower rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, are less likely to deliver a baby too early or too small, and are less likely to experience post-partum or peripartum depression. For many expecting parents, CenteringPregnancy is an excellent fit for their prenatal care needs.”

PPHP is one of eight Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country to offer prenatal care and the first to offer CenteringPregnancy. CenteringPregnancy is a program within the Centering Healthcare Institute whose mission is to improve health, transform care, and disrupt inequitable systems through the Centering group model.

PPHP is now accepting both new CenteringPregnancy patients, and traditional prenatal patients, at both the Yonkers and New Rochelle health centers. Traditional prenatal care is also available at the Patchogue, Smithtown, and White Plains locations. For more information about Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic’s prenatal program, including CenteringPregnancy, visit www.pphp.org/prenatal.