What is Group Prenatal Care? The Benefits of Motherhood Circles

Feb 10

Imagine your prenatal care feeling less like a rushed doctor's appointment and more like a supportive community where you spend two hours learning, connecting, and preparing for motherhood alongside other women due the same month as you.

That's group prenatal care and it's transforming how pregnant women experience pregnancy.

Instead of quick 15-minute checkups where you barely have time to ask questions, group prenatal care brings together 8-12 expectant moms for 90-120 minute sessions that combine medical care, comprehensive education, and peer support. Over your pregnancy, you'll spend 20+ hours with your provider 10 times more than traditional prenatal care's 2-4 hours.

Research shows this model doesn't just feel better, it leads to better outcomes. Women in group prenatal care have up to 57% fewer preterm births, healthier babies, lower rates of postpartum depression, and feel more prepared for labor and delivery. For Black women, the benefits are even more significant, with studies showing group care helps reduce maternal health disparities.

In this article, we'll explain what group prenatal care is, how it works, who it's for, and where you can access it in Connecticut through Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles program.

What Is Group Prenatal Care?

Group prenatal care flips the traditional script. Instead of seeing your OB/GYN alone, you meet with a healthcare provider and 8-12 other pregnant women in a group setting.

Each session lasts 90-120 minutes, happening on a similar schedule to your traditional prenatal care. monthly. You get a brief individual health check, but most time is spent learning together as a group. Over your pregnancy, you'll have about 10 group prenatal visits, and more than 20 hours of care time with your provider. Traditional prenatal care offers only 2-4 hours total.

The most well-known model is CenteringPregnancy. Newer programs like Yale's "Expect With Me and Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles specifically address maternal health disparities and provide culturally responsive care.

How Group Prenatal Care Works: What Happens in a Session?

A typical 90-minute session includes several key components:

The individual check-in: A clinical care assistant takes your vital signs, blood pressure and weight, just like a traditional appointment. In some group settings, you will be taught how take your own vital signs. Your provider reviews results with you individually to ensure everything is on track.

The group education: Your provider leads a discussion on a pregnancy topic: labor preparation, nutrition, sleep, managing pain, breastfeeding, or postpartum recovery. It's comprehensive but explained clearly, not heavy medical jargon.

Peer support: As the group learns together, you ask questions and hear from other women. You realize you're not alone in your worries. Many women say this is the best part—the sense of community.

Pregnancy preparation skills: Unlike traditional appointments, you actually have time to practice. You might do breathing exercises for labor, learn comfort positions, or practice breastfeeding. You leave feeling genuinely prepared.

Why Group Prenatal Care Works: The Research

The evidence is strong. A 2019 study found that women with 5+ group prenatal visits had a 68% reduction in preterm birth risk. Even for women without risk factors, group care shows a 33% reduction compared to traditional care.

Other key findings: Yale's "Expect With Me" study showed 63% lower risk of low birth weight babies. For Black women specifically, babies are born about a week later on average, meaning better developed lungs and fewer NICU admissions.

Postpartum depression rates are lower among group care participants. According to the Centering Healthcare Institute, 96% of women prefer group prenatal care once they experience it. They feel more educated, supported, and confident heading into labor.

For Black women, these benefits are especially significant. Group care helps reduce maternal health disparities through peer support, cultural responsiveness, and extended provider time that builds trust.

Group Prenatal Care Reduces Maternal Health Disparities

Black women face significantly higher rates of pregnancy complications and maternal mortality in the U.S., not because of genetics, but because of racism in all its forms.

Group prenatal care addresses these disparities directly. Peer support reduces the impact of provider bias. When you're with other Black women sharing experiences, you feel less alone and more empowered to advocate for yourself. Second, culturally responsive models like Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles acknowledge the unique experiences of Black pregnant women. Finally, extended time with your provider builds trust, foundational to good care.

Recent research highlights group prenatal care's promise in reducing racial equity gaps in maternal health outcomes.

Group Prenatal Care vs. Traditional Prenatal Care

Total hours

Group care: 20+ hours
Traditional care: 2–4 hours

Session length

Group care: 90–120 minutes
Traditional care: 10–15 minutes

Provider interaction

Group care: Individual + group
Traditional care: Individual only

Education

Group care: Comprehensive, in-depth
Traditional care: Brief

Peer support

Group care: Built-in community
Traditional care: None

Labor preparation

Group care: Extensive practice
Traditional care: Limited

Patient satisfaction

Group care: 96% prefer group
Traditional care: Varies

Who Should Consider Group Prenatal Care?

Group prenatal care benefits pregnant women across the board, especially if you want more than 15-minute appointments, seek comprehensive education, desire a supportive community, or are looking for culturally responsive care. It's also ideal if you have HUSKY/Medicaid and want insurance-covered prenatal care that truly invests in your health.

Is Group Prenatal Care Covered by Insurance?

Yes. This is important: group prenatal care is covered by the same insurance that covers traditional prenatal care, including HUSKY/Medicaid. You won't pay extra out of pocket. In fact, because group care leads to better outcomes and fewer complications, it's actually a cost-effective option for the healthcare system.

In Connecticut, this aligns with the state's new value-based payment system for Medicaid, which specifically rewards providers who integrate group prenatal care, doula services, and other evidence-based approaches to improve maternal health outcomes.

Where to Access Group Prenatal Care in Connecticut

If you're pregnant in Connecticut and interested in group prenatal care, Enrich Health offers Motherhood Circles, a group prenatal care program designed specifically to address maternal health disparities and provide culturally responsive care.

Founded in June 2025 by Dr. Monique Rainford (Harvard Medical School MD, Yale MBA, Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine, and author of "Pregnant While Black") and Dr. Andrea Lee (Georgetown-trained MD with 20+ years of clinical experience), Enrich Health is a Black woman-led OB/GYN practice committed to eliminating maternal health disparities for Black women in Connecticut.

Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles aren't just group prenatal care, they're a complete experience. Sessions include prenatal education, peer support, and preparation for labor and delivery. Beyond group care, Enrich Health also offers individual prenatal care, integrated doula services through a partnership with Doulas4CT, certified nurse-midwifery care, postpartum care up to 12 months, lactation support, and prenatal fitness classes called Motherhood Movement Circles.

Learn more about Enrich Health's approach to prenatal care and the Motherhood Circles program.

The Bottom Line: Why Group Prenatal Care Matters

Pregnancy is one of the most important events in your life. You deserve care that honors your needs, gives you time to ask questions, prepares you fully for labor and motherhood, and connects you with a community of support.

Traditional 15-minute appointments feel rushed because they are. You're lucky if you get through your basic health screening and one or two questions. Group prenatal care flips that entirely. You get 20+ hours with your provider, comprehensive education, and the emotional support of other women walking the same path.

The research is clear: group prenatal care reduces preterm birth, improves birth weight, lowers postpartum depression, and helps reduce maternal health disparities. For Black women, these benefits are even more significant, addressing real, documented gaps in maternal health outcomes.

If you're pregnant in Connecticut and want more than 15-minute appointments, Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles might be exactly what you're looking for. You deserve care that works.

Ready to Learn More?

Enrich Health's Motherhood Circles are now enrolling pregnant women in Hamden and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Call (203) 200-0417 to learn about the next cohort start date, or visit enrichhealth.info to schedule a consultation. You can also explore more about comprehensive prenatal care in Hamden, CT or learn more about the Black woman-led OB/GYN practice founded on principles of equity and cultural responsiveness.

Your pregnancy deserves better. Motherhood Circles is here to support you.