amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83 
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Aug 11, 2017 0:17:45 GMT -5
Today's Centering dad story comes from Cory. I love this story because the couple decided to continue with Centering even after receiving some surprising news at week 20. To get into the story, this is our first baby (or so we thought!!). We found out my wife Katie had become pregnant late in in 2016 and we started Centering shortly after we had our first visit with a mid-wife around the 8 or 10 week mark. It looked like a good way to get some education and also a group experience. We were initially on fence as to whether we should participate or not but ultimately decided to jump in feet first. We moved to Washington from Colorado, and always found it a little hard to connect with people in the NW. We thought this might be a good way to meet some new people.
The Centering sessions were always entertaining, educational and engaging. It really allowed for questions to be posed that you might not really want to ask a health professional in a one on one setting. My favorite exercise was a “Dear Abby” type Q and A for any and all questions related to sex during pregnancy. It was perfectly entertaining and allowed for some serious questions to be addressed for EVERYONE! The result was bonding in the group and information on a sensitive subject.
At about 20 weeks, my wife and I had our growth scan, and I will never forget the situation. Ultra-sound tech (Brenda, she was great!), “So, what exactly to do you know about the pregnancy?” Wife and I, “Uhhh, it is a boy and there is only one….”. Brenda, “Well, actually, there are two!” As you would expect, my wife and I simultaneously shared a 4 letter word of joy. The shock was tremendous and in the long run we realize how blessed we really are.
After learning we are having twins, we had the option to opt out of Centering but decided to stay with the group. It was the right decision for us and it has been a very valuable experience. I will tell you first hand there is something different that comes from care in a group setting that you don’t get from a 1:1 setting with providers.
Is Centering worth it? Yes, I could have googled everything in book, but the value really is in the connections that we have made with the providers and with the group that made it more effective. That said, I could totally see how someone might initially be apprehensive about it. It can come down to the group you are with (are they open to group learning), and how effective the providers are at getting people to open up. Fortunately, we had providers like amydonaldson63 , the MA for the who consistently went above and beyond in our care (too many times to count!!!) and our midwife Karen has been great too!
I definitely connected with other dads as well. It seemed like there was always an opportunity to swap notes and experiences on what was to come and what we thought we knew.
Am I ready to be a father? Yes...at least I think so. As of the time I am writing this, my wife is about a week out from the big day, and we are so excited to meet them both (a boy and a girl!) and to see what they are like.
Cory & Katie
Cory attempting the baby carrier Getting a little help from CNM, Karen Voila!
I seriously love my dads that come to Centering! This group was so much fun and now that all of their babies have been born (last one was born this week) we are ready to have their reunion in a few weeks. I tried to get to the hospital to see each and everyone of them if I was at work when they delivered and if I didn't have a cold. If I didn't get to see them they made it a point to come in and see me. Super sweet couples and they are already such amazing parents. They are all rockstars and I seriously have the best patients ever! I will post pics of the reunion after I have it !!! |
|
|
|
Post by nlewis on Aug 14, 2017 8:38:39 GMT -5
amydonaldson63 post and/or send me pictures when you have the reunion!
|
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 16, 2017 2:56:44 GMT -5
Lol ummm haven't been on here in a while but I was contacted by Sunshine yesterday and thought I would check what was going on, I still have the reunion pics, I will send to you. They are sooooo stinking cute. Like seriously cute. Sorry its has been a bit but I am back and things are going amazing. Ill email to you tomorrow
~Amy
|
|
|
|
Post by nlewis on Nov 16, 2017 13:26:34 GMT -5
Lol ummm haven't been on here in a while but I was contacted by Sunshine yesterday and thought I would check what was going on, I still have the reunion pics, I will send to you. They are sooooo stinking cute. Like seriously cute. Sorry its has been a bit but I am back and things are going amazing. Ill email to you tomorrow ~Amy Awesome! It's great to "see" you again. I missed you! Yes, send me pics. Also, we're doing a Prematurity chat on November 29th - would love to have you join and share. Here's the info. SaveSave |
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 26, 2017 2:18:42 GMT -5
|
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 26, 2017 2:24:43 GMT -5
|
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 26, 2017 2:31:09 GMT -5
|
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 26, 2017 2:38:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by nlewis on Nov 27, 2017 9:03:02 GMT -5
Love all these photos, Amy! Thank you for sharing! SaveSave |
|
|
|
Post by Tanya Munroe on Nov 28, 2017 11:45:05 GMT -5
amydonaldson63 Oh my goodness I cannot deal with all the cuteness in these photos!! Batman! A sleepy princess! All those smiles, the beautiful quilt, that amazing spread (I am now starving, thanks)! Thank you for sharing these they made my week 
|
|
amydonaldson63
WA - Washington Centering Consortium
#BOOM SITE VISIT APPROVED - Thank you Centering Healthcare
Posts: 83
I work at a: Healthcare Facility
My job role is: Healthcare Provider
I am interested in Centering because: I want to make a difference in someones life for the better and help educate them about the better way of healthcare. I am passionate about what I do with our Centering Program at Kaiser Permanente. I love the lifelong friendships that I build while going thru the journey of pregnancy for all of my patients. I love the personal care that patients receive and I love to keep our groups fun and current. Coming up on being accredited for a year in Jan 2018 and we have grown so much. Already starting 2 groups a month starting Dec 2017, beat our goal to start 2 by a month. #MicDrop
|
Post by amydonaldson63 on Nov 28, 2017 19:03:52 GMT -5
nlewis and Tanya Munroe, thank you! I am kind of biased since they are my Centering patients. Lol , I seriously have the BEST job in the world. That's the cool thing about Centering is you get that connection on a more personal level that you don't get in your traditional setting in the clinic. |
|
