Grace Hill Health Centers Featured in St. Louis Post Dispatch
Posted on Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
by Michele Munz, www.stltoday.com
The waiting room at the obstetric office in Lake Saint Louis has been transformed. The rows of chairs are moved into a circle. The magazines pushed aside. A blanket covers the television.
In one corner, nearly a dozen patients — all about five months along in their pregnancy — take turns recording their weight and blood pressure. In another corner, behind a folding screen, a doctor listens to the fetus heartbeat and discusses any private concerns individually with patients.
The doctors at Midwest OB/GYN are using a growing approach in prenatal care shown to produce happier moms and healthier babies. They have taken the women out of the exam room by offering group appointments — an option the private practice has provided since August.
After taking a seat in the circle, the participants play a game that involves knowing each other’s names and working together. Next they talk about finding ways to relax. Then they move on to a discussion about birth control options.
