It gives you the chance to meet other pregnant people and to have more time with health professionals to learn about pregnancy, birth and your newborn.
Group prenatal care includes the regular schedule of visits that you would normally have with your doctor. Care is shared between your doctor, your family medicine resident and a midwife.
Some of your visits will be individual and some will be done as a group.
Research has shown that people who participate in Group Prenatal Care have:
- Higher rates of breast/chestfeeding
- Increased satisfaction with care
- More knowledge and confidence about pregnancy and birth
- A decrease in the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight
This program is only available to patients of physicians at our Toronto site.
What to expect
Groups are led by a midwife and two family medicine residents. They also include sessions with other family health team members, including our dietitian and our perinatal mental health social workers. The sessions provide support and education about your health during pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and care for your newborn.
There are seven sessions over the course of your pregnancy, all held in the evening at the same day and time. You will be provided the schedule well in advance.
You will also have clinic visits with your family medicine prenatal care physician throughout your pregnancy and any time you have a medical concern.
Group sessions cover topics including:
- Diet and exercise during pregnancy
- Your emotional health
- Infant feeding and breast/chestfeeding support
- Coping during labour
- Newborn care
- Postpartum rest and healing
Group sessions last approximately two hours. There will be time allotted for the regular clinical checks, as well as discussion relevant to your month of pregnancy. You will also have an opportunity to socialize with people who are due around the same time as you.
Our perinatal nurse will discuss the program with you when you come into care with the family health team. If you decide that you would like to participate in the group model, your physician and resident will care for you in the early part of your pregnancy. This will allow time to understand our model and receive all tests and procedures that are offered at this time.
At around 16-20 weeks, you will enter into a group of approximately 10 pregnant people. Partners/support persons are welcome.
If you enroll in the program, you will also be part of our postpartum home visiting program. Your midwife will visit you at home in the early days to provide feeding support and allow healing in the comfort of your own home.
Our midwives provide ongoing support in the postpartum period including parent support groups and an infant feeding clinic.
How to access our services
If you are interested in participating in the Group Perinatal Care Program, please discuss with our perinatal nurse or another family health team member. Our midwives will be notified and you will be contacted.
Only registered patients can access this service. If you would like to become a patient of the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team, learn more on becoming a patient.
