EleVATE group offers support and education for moms-to-be

EleVATE is a group prenatal care program offered at University Health. EleVATE was created through a collaboration of caregivers at Washington University in St. Louis, frustrated by the unfair outcomes they saw in communities of color.

Pregnant people have a choice between meeting at University Health Women's Care located in downtown Kansas City or at University Health Women's Care located in Lee's Summit.

Pregnant people are grouped by gestational age- or rather how far along they are in their pregnancies. Each group consists of about eight pregnant people and a provider, often a nurse practitioner. The pregnant people come in as often as they would for traditional prenatal care.

Group prenatal care begins with self-advocacy. Pregnant people meet one-on-one with the provider. It's the pregnant person, not the nurse practitioner, who weighs, measures and writes down a temperature and blood pressure reading. That individual session is a time for the patient to ask any questions that pertain specifically to their pregnancy.

After all of the patients have had their individual appointments, they meet as a group. Older children and partners are welcome to attend, too. Since the pregnant people are all around the same point in their pregnancy, they might all have similar questions, without even knowing it. That might be the theme of the discussion, proposed by the provider but led by patients. This group conversation allows patients to learn from one another, and empowers patients to ask culturally specific questions that not only pertain to them, but to the rest of the group. EleVATE teaches patients to advocate for themselves and their babies during childbirth, while communicating with providers in a way that promotes cooperation and best outcomes.

Since mental health issues are a leading cause of death for women after pregnancy, much time is spend on learning the signs of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) - which was formerly known as postpartum depression. EleVATE serves patients in a trauma informed manner, so to empower them in discussions about self-care, stress coping mechanisms and the ins-and-outs that come with being a new parent.

For more information on the EleVATE program, please speak to your Obstetrician.