Group prenatal care offers familiarity and confidence

While it may take a whole village to raise a child, the same applies for bringing one into the world, too.

That’s the philosophy behind Blossom, a collaborative birth program that opened its doors in Steveston in January.

The idea is not a new one - it was originally started in Vancouver 10 years ago and the aim is to have midwives, nurses and family physicians work together to offer women maternity care.

Lori Miller, a registered nurse and midwife, said the options previously for pregnant women in Richmond were divided into separate components – a family physician, obstetrician, or midwife.

“That just wasn’t a satisfying way of offering maternity care,” she told the News, adding some local physicians were feeling the same way. “So, we got together and looked at what was already being done.”

What they found novel was that the existing program in Vancouver was intent on engaging women in their own care, which includes the option of a home birth.

“It was not just about them coming into the office, sit down and get the information, but engaging, informing and empowering them,” Miller said, adding it also fostered a sense of community.

That part was deemed vital as she found out from other moms that since Richmond has such as diverse community, getting to know people could prove to be quite a task.

“Public health nurses do a great job with holding baby health days, but a lot of moms still felt quite isolated,” Miller said. “And that got them down.”

Solving that issue was holding group prenatal classes.

“It’s a two-hour session, they come and we do what we call baby checks, and then the moms get together and talk,” Miller said. “They are on a defined topic and they share things with each other. That isn’t done in regular maternity care.”

Enriching that experience is a mixture of clients, some who are first-timers, and others who are on their second or third pregnancy.

One of the clients at Blossom, Shelley John, who is due Sept. 2. She said she chose the collaborative firm of care because she wanted to get to know the people who would help her through the pregnancy and birth.

“I had heard that the nurses provide most of the care and at the end the OBGYN comes in like a rock star and delivers your baby,” John said. “It can be the same if you go to your GP because they may not be available for the birth.

“I like the fact there are three midwives here and two doctors, who we’ve met and have had appointments with, so it won’t be a stranger. It will be someone we know,” she added.

Plus, John is having her child on her own, via a sperm donor, and liked the supportive nature of the group sessions.

“Just to have the connections of the other moms is a big thing,” she said.

Lamcy Xu, who is due Sept. 6, said she likes the fact all of the appointments at Blossom are held on time.

“Other people who go to their doctor can be waiting for a long time,” she said laughing. “Any time you make an appointment here they are on time.”