In This article

• Group prenatal care models combine clinical care with education and support.
  
• Virtual delivery may improve access and overcome logistical barriers to participation.
  
• Participants in group care reported lower perceived stress than those in individual care.
  
• Higher engagement levels correlated with better perceived quality, increased preparedness to care for the baby at home, improved sleep, and increased social interactions.
  
• Telehealth-supported prenatal group programs may improve maternal mental health by connection and access to care.

In the United States, obstetric care is most often delivered individually, with prenatal visits occurring one-on-one between the patient and provider. However, there is growing interest in group models of prenatal care, such as CenteringPregnancy. These models have been associated with improved outcomes, including higher prenatal visit attendance, lower preterm birth rates, and greater breastfeeding initiation.

Group prenatal care programs typically include three components: clinical assessment, education, and psychosocial support. This model can foster community and connection among participants while improving efficiency in healthcare delivery. Moreover, group care may have added benefits for maternal mental health by providing emotional support, reducing isolation, and enhancing confidence and engagement in the perinatal period.

Group prenatal care emphasizes an active, participatory approach to learning, using a facilitative rather than didactic style to engage birthing individuals more fully in their care. It also cultivates peer and provider support, which may lead to improved satisfaction and experience of care.

Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Group Prenatal Care

While in-person group prenatal care offers meaningful social interaction, logistical challenges can limit participation, particularly for patients with older children, demanding work schedules, or transportation barriers. Virtual or hybrid formats may help overcome these obstacles by integrating accessible, telehealth-supported group sessions.

A recent cohort study conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (January 2022–March 2024) examined outcomes among 424 pregnant individuals. Of these, 212 participated in group multimodal prenatal care (GMPC) delivered virtually alongside in-person appointments. A comparison group of 212 individuals (matched by gestational age, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and maternal age) received individual multimodal prenatal care (IMPC) through a combination of remote and in-person visits. Participants completed surveys at baseline (before 14 weeks’ gestation) and at 4–8 weeks postpartum.

Researchers analyzed psychosocial outcomes—including stress, depression, and anxiety—as well as perceived quality of prenatal care using validated instruments. Of the total cohort, 390 participants (95.6%) completed follow-up assessments. The sample was racially and ethnically diverse: 25% Asian/Pacific Islander, 23% Hispanic, 4% non-Hispanic Black, 41% non-Hispanic White, and 7% multiracial, with a median age of 32 years (IQR, 30–35).

Study Findings

Participants receiving GMPC reported a 21% lower risk of perceived stress compared with those receiving IMPC (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67–0.94). No significant differences were observed between groups for postpartum depression, anxiety, or other psychosocial outcomes.

Dose-stratified analyses revealed that individuals who attended at least five sessions or 70% of their scheduled group visits reported:

• Higher perceived quality of prenatal care 
• Greater preparedness to care for their baby at home 
• Higher scores on subscales measuring the ability to anticipate problems and solutions, time spent, and provider availability 
• Improved ratings in sleep latency and social interactions 

Overall, group multimodal prenatal care was associated with outcomes equivalent to, and in some cases better than, individual prenatal care.

Implications for Maternal Mental Health

The findings of this cohort study suggest that participation in virtual group prenatal care may enhance patients’ experiences, strengthen preparedness for parenthood, and reduce perceived stress. Beyond individual benefits, telehealth-supported prenatal groups may help mitigate persistent barriers to care—such as long travel times, limited appointment availability, or geographic isolation. Especially in the post-pandemic landscape, virtual group care represents a promising strategy to promote connection, support, and equitable access to obstetric and mental health services.

—Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD