September 9, 2025 —A new study from Rutgers School of Public Health finds that CenteringPregnancy®, a group prenatal care model, significantly enhances patient satisfaction, trust, and social support among expectant mothers while also improving outcomes for providers.
Unlike traditional one-on-one appointments, CenteringPregnancy brings together small groups of patients at similar stages of pregnancy for health check-ups, education, and facilitated discussion. Researchers found that participants who attended five or more sessions were more likely to attend postpartum visits and initiate breastfeeding, key indicators of better maternal and infant health.
Providers also reported lower burnout and greater job satisfaction, citing the model’s emphasis on teamwork and relationship-building. The findings suggest that centering models can strengthen both the patient experience and the health-care workforce by creating deeper trust, peer connection, and continuity of care.
The evaluation, led by Rutgers in collaboration with clinical and community partners across New Jersey, adds to growing national evidence supporting group prenatal care as an effective, equitable approach to improving maternal health outcomes.