Centuring?

Has anyone ever heard of this? Everything about babies and pregnancy is clearly new to me, but I had definitely never heard of centuring before... but I am VERY excited about it. Excited enough to dedicate a whole post to it!

I got a call from the hospital yesterday asking if I wanted to take part of this. I asked a TON of questions, so I'll try to describe it as briefly as possible.

Basically, instead of going in for your monthly/bi-weekly/weekly appointments, signing in at the front desk, and meeting with a doctor that has very little time or patience to sit with you and go over all of your questions, you instead meet with the centuring director, a midwife (the same one every time), and a group of other women. Skeptical? I was too at this point. Here's where I flooded the poor lady with questions.

No, you do not have to spread eagle or even weigh yourself in front of a bunch of other preggies. Everyone still gets some one on one time with the midwife. These appointments will each last around 1.5 to 2 hours... so what do we do in the meantime you ask? At each visit there will be food and music played while everyone else is getting their midwife time. *can I go first please so I can eat AFTER I've been weighed? Thanks* After everyone is done, there is also a guest speaker each time. For example, the first time a nutritionist, the second time a masseuse.. with her massage table! Sold! She assured me that I'd get much more personal time (if you still have questions afterwards, the midwife will take you to her office), it's a great way to make some friends, and just know a group of girls that are right along with your in your pregnancy. She says they even throw showers for the girls a lot of the times.

By the end of the conversation, I already felt like I met a new lifelong friend. I told her I would love to be a part of it, but that we were moving in May and asked if that would affect anything. I told her where we were going, and small world, that where she just moved here from. She knows the whole L&D dept. in my new home town, said she would have me all prepared to go when the time comes, with a little notebook filled with all my info and extra copies of my charts, and would have an appointment sent up for me in new town before I even get there.. tour of L&D included! They have a centuring group there as well so I'll be able to continue.

Best of all, my next appointment was moved up by a week! So instead of going in on the 11th (to have screenings and schedule my ultrasound) I'm now going in for my first centuring experience on the 4th! Yes, less than a week.

I think this is going to be a great experience! I understand that this definitely wouldn't be every one's cup of tea, but it's right up my alley. Stay tuned a week from today to see how I really feel about it. And to *keep your fingers crossed* find out when the ultrasound will be! Which translates to knowing when we'll find out if this little munchkin is a he or she!