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During 2006, MCNS included a modified Centering Pregnancy® and Parenting(TM) (CPP) group care model into midwifery service delivery. A simple quantitative and qualitative case-study evaluation about women’s experience was undertaken, seven to eighteen months after birth. The aim was three-fold: to inform an individual practice about the value of group care; to see implications for quality of work-life and lastly to assess how the findings can be related to enhancing the provision of midwifery service delivery within the Canadian Health Care System.

Forty-eight women, in five groups of nine to ten members received a combination of approximately half of their prenatal and postnatal appointments in a group setting, and the other half as individual visits. Access to midwifery care was substantially expanded without notably increasing prenatal and postnatal service delivery hours. This had a positive effect on midwives quality of work-life.

Out of the entire population who had experienced midwifery group care, 32 women completed and returned a 50 question survey, two declined to participate and fourteen did not respond. Respondents were mostly post-secondary educated Caucasians, with an average age of 33. A balanced response was received from both first time mothers and experienced mothers.

Ninety-one percent viewed group care positively. Most respondents were comfortable with health assessment and informed choice discussions in a group setting. Sixty-eight percent reported that they were still meeting with their group. This response suggested that incorporating group care in midwifery service delivery added a long-term social networking benefit.

All respondents considered individual visits integral to midwifery service. A large majority recommended either keeping group session numbers the same or adding one to two extra sessions. However, a small minority recommended having no group care. The study reflected women’s diverse needs and indicated that need fulfillment contributed to women’s experience. These findings suggested that an essential part of midwifery service delivery is to maintain both individual visits and group care as service options. While these results appear promising further in depth evaluation is required.

“Three of the five groups continue regularly to be in touch and meet. Most of these women have had a second or third child. The ages of the children range from 5 years to 6 weeks old. Women say these friendships that started during their midwifery experience are as supportive as family. Some have been asking for group care in their next pregnancies. In one woman’s words: “Midwives roles in our life is very specific and for a relatively short duration – the support of other families can naturally extend much farther if given the time to blossom and grow”. These facts and perceptions have encouraged Vera, with the assistance of Kathy McGrenera, to continue to develop midwifery group care as an optional service that clients can participate in when there are enough women interested to run a prenatal group.”