Centering Pregnancy is MAHEC's preferred model of care during your pregnancy.
View the long version of our program overview here.
While traditional prenatal care is always an option at MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists, we also offer Centering Pregnancy,
an evidence-based model of group prenatal care recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists based on studies that show group prenatal care can improve birth outcomes, patient education, social
support, and patient satisfaction - which you'll see in the testimonials below!
Centering Pregnancy reduces risks for preterm delivery, low birth weight, and cesarean section. Our group approach
gives families more time with dedicated providers to explore healthy pregnancy and parenting information in a
supportive environment with families at similar stages in their pregnancy journey.
We find families really enjoy the extra support they receive in our Centering Pregnancy groups, and we encourage you
to give this evidence-based approach a try. You can learn more about our preferred model of care in the videos and
information below:
Centering Pregnancy is a way for you to share learning and experiences with other pregnant women and to be involved
in your own care.
Centering Pregnancy includes a traditional health checkup with additional time and attention in a setting with other
expectant parents. You’ll have your one-on-one healthcare checkup with your provider. Then you will join other
women, who are due near the same time, for shared discussion of all things related to pregnancy, birth, the
postpartum period, and parenthood.
If you are interested in this model of care and would like more information, please email us at
centeringinfo@mahec.net.
Centering Pregnancy Benefits
Better Health Outcomes
Numerous studies have shown that Centering Moms have fewer preterm deliveries and overall healthier
babies.
"Give it a chance - you really will love it!"
Self-Care
Moms are actively engaged in their own healthcare.
"We covered things that I never would have thought to ask or discuss."
Self-Confidence
Centering moms are better prepared for labor, delivery, and the care of their infant. Centering moms
better understand what is normal during pregnancy, and what is cause for concern.
"Centering is more personal and so much more fun than waiting rooms!"
More Time With Your Providers
Moms in Centering spend 12 times more time with their providers than women in traditional care.
"I loved the ability to talk more extensively with the professionals we were given access to."
Support and Friendship
Women enjoy being with other women, and their support people, who are going through a similar
experience. This gives them an opportunity to share their knowledge and learn from one another and
the wisdom of the group. Centering parents create lasting friendships.
"I felt extra supported sharing the experience with other pregnant women and the wonderful MAHEC
staff."
Learning and FUN
The most common word used to describe Centering is FUN! In Centering, you are actively engaged and
involved in a discussion with your peers, rather than being lectured to or given a pamphlet.
Healthy, delicious snacks, interactive activities, and music are a part of every session.
"Best two hours of my day! I'm going to miss my group so much."
Our Facilitators
Our facilitators are committed to helping you have the best pregnancy possible in an empowering and supportive
community of Centering families. Your facilitators will be with you throughout your pregnancy journey and are
excited to support you as you grow your family. You'll have plenty of time to get to know each other in the coming
months, but you can learn a little more in our short introductions below.
Centering Parenting: MAHEC's preferred model of care
during your child's first year of life.
Our midwifery service offers care for women throughout their lifetime. We are honored to work with you as you embark
on the incredible journey of pregnancy, childbirth and beyond!
Services include:
Comprehensive personalized pregnancy care
Preconception care
In house consultation with maternal-fetal specialists
In house ultrasound and laboratory
Well woman care, including annual exams and pap smears
Birth control, including IUDs and natural family planning
Menopause care
Our midwives do not participate in the 24/7 call schedule at Mission, but instead we adopt a team-based approach that
fully integrates the CNMs into our group practice.
Our Midwives
What is a doula?
A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support—including advocacy to pregnant individuals and their families—before, during, and after childbirth to help them achieve the healthiest, most satisfying birth and postpartum experience possible.
What kind of support can doulas offer?
Doulas do not provide medical care or perform clinical tasks like doctors or midwives. Instead, they focus on providing continuous support and advocacy, helping individuals and families navigate their birth preferences, understand their options, and make informed decisions. Doulas offer various forms of support, including providing prenatal education, offering comfort measures during labor (such as massage and breathing techniques), helping with birth positioning, and advocating for the birthing person's wishes.
In addition to labor support, doulas offer postpartum support to assist with newborn care, breastfeeding, and emotional adjustment. Their presence and guidance serves to enhance the overall birth experience, promote a sense of empowerment, and improve birth outcomes.
Interested in having a doula with you during your pregnancy? Please contact your provider for more information and a referral.
What is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist?
Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists are high-risk pregnancy experts who oversee complicated pregnancies. MFM
physicians work collaboratively with other clinical specialists including certified nurse midwives, nurse
practitioners, physician's assistants, and general obstetrician-gynecologists; to keep expectant moms safe and
healthy prior to, during and shortly after pregnancy. Our specialists offer prenatal ultrasounds and related
screening and diagnostic tests, develop interdisciplinary care plans. administer treatments and perform surgeries
depending on the type and severity of complications.
Patients are referred to one of our MFM specialists if she and/or her baby are prone to serious health risks during
pregnancy or following delivery. These women meet with our MFM physicians for a consultation, an ultrasound exam or
perhaps both. Since there are many different types of appointments available, our staff will work with your
healthcare provider to ensure that you are scheduled for the appropriate type of care.
Miracle Babies
Jeremy and Bonnie with their identical twin girls from the same amniotic sac—an uncommon and
high risk type of twin that can result in the loss of both babies.
“We just had a lot to process because we wanted to get excited about the pregnancy, but there was a also a
lot of fear.” — Bonnie
Why might I be referred to an MFM specialist?
There are several reasons why you would need to consult with an MFM physician during your pregnancy. You may be
referred to us if:
You have a preexisting medical condition or one that has developed during pregnancy (e.g. diabetes, high blood
pressure, kidney disease, hypertension, autoimmune disorder, thrombophilia, etc.)
You have a history of complications during pregnancy or delivery (e.g. incompetent cervix, preterm labor,
preterm birth, preeclampsia, alloimmunization, premature rupture of the membranes, etc.)
You have a history of pregnancy losses
You are expecting more than one baby (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc.)
You have had previously, or are expecting currently, a baby with a structural or genetic difference
If you exhibit any of the above at-risk conditions, you will meet with an MFM physician to review your medical,
previous pregnancy and family history. Any current or expected complications during your pregnancy will be discussed
and a physical exam will be performed, if necessary. Our specialists will be happy to discuss any potential maternal
and fetal risks with you in detail and make recommendations for tests and/or treatments to improve the likelihood of
a successful pregnancy.
What can an ultrasound reveal about the health of my pregnancy?
Depending on the reason for your visit, you may have an ultrasound performed as part of your initial appointment with
one of our MFM specialists. Ultrasound is an important diagnostic tool that can help evaluate fetal health.
Ultrasound is used to:
Document the number of babies in the uterus
Measure the size of the baby to predict the due date
Observe the baby's growth rate by making many measurements over time
Check the location of the placenta and its attachment to the umbilical cord
Determine whether or not there is an appropriate amount of amniotic fluid around the baby
Evaluate fetal organ systems and well-being
Determine the position of the baby to see if it is in the normal, head-down position in time for labor
Monitor the baby during specialized procedures, such as amniocentesis (sampling of the amniotic fluid with a
needle for genetic and other testing)
Why might I consider participating in genetic counseling?
Genetic counseling is available for women who are currently pregnant or considering having a child in the future.
MAHEC partners with the Mission Fullerton
Genetics Center to provide the highest quality care for our at-risk patients. You may meet with a
genetic counselor if:
You will be 35 years of age or older at the time of delivery
Your ultrasound results reveal a known or suspected structural birth difference
You receive an abnormal prenatal or genetic screening test result (e.g. First Trimester Screen, Quad screen,
cell free fetal DNA screen, cystic fibrosis screen, etc.)
You have an illness that may be associated with an increased risk for structural birth differences (e.g.
diabetes, PKU, etc.)
You are taking medication that may be associated with an increased risk for structural birth differences (e.g.
seizures, autoimmune disease, etc.)
You have been exposed to something that may be associated with an increased risk for structural birth
differences (e.g. drug/alcohol use, chemicals, certain infections, etc.)
You have a family history of genetic conditions, chromosome or structural birth differences (e.g. cystic
fibrosis, sickle cell disease, open neural tube, etc.)
Substance use during pregnancy
If you
are pregnant and struggling with a substance use disorder (drug/alcohol addiction), please visit MAHEC's Project CARA to learn more about treatment options, specialty obstetric services, medication assisted treatment, counseling and other community resources.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Team
Our dedicated staff is made up of the only board-certified MFM physicians in the region aided by two exceptional
nurse practitioners with special expertise in high-risk obstetrics. This team specializes in providing care for
women who are ’at risk’ and considering pregnancy or those who are already pregnant and ’high-risk’ or complicated
for a variety of reasons. We see patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as
comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and genetic amniocentesis. We also consult on patients with
medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy including heart disease, chronic hypertension,
diabetes and other endocrine disorders, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, and infectious diseases. Otherwise
healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse
outcomes such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture
of membranes, or growth abnormalities of the fetus.
Dr. Lisa Carroll is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist. She joined the MAHEC Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in 2020 after completing Medical School at the University of North Carolina, Ob/Gyn Residency at Boston Medical Center, and MFM Fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. Throughout her training and career, Dr. Carroll’s clinical and research interests have been guided by her commitment to social justice and equity for marginalized populations.
Dr. Carroll specializes in providing care for women who are ‘at risk’ and considering pregnancy, or those who are experiencing ‘high-risk’ or complicated pregnancies for a variety of reasons. Dr. Carroll sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling and genetic amniocentesis. She also consults with patients who have medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy, which includes heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes/other endocrinologic disorders, kidney/gastrointestinal diseases and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes, such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes or growth abnormalities of the fetus. Dr. Carroll considers it a great privilege to walk with women through questions and complications that arise in pregnancy in effort to achieve the healthiest possible outcomes for women and their growing families.
Dr. Carol Coulson is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. She specializes in providing care for women who are ’at risk’ and considering pregnancy or those who are already pregnant and ’high-risk’ or complicated for a variety of reasons. Dr. Coulson sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling, and genetic amniocentesis. She also consults on patients with medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy including heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes and other endocrinologic disorders, kidney and gastrointestinal diseases, and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, or growth abnormalities of the fetus.
Dr. Kathryn Davidson is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. She joined the MAHEC Maternal-Fetal Medicine division in 2014 after completing medical school, residency and fellowship at the University Of Florida. Although she grew up on the Space Coast of Florida, she previously called North Carolina home while attending undergrad at Wake Forest University. She is passionate about helping families grow by optimizing the health of each pregnancy.
Dr. Davidson specializes in providing care for women who are ’at risk’ and considering pregnancy, or those who are experiencing ’high-risk’ or complicated pregnancies for a variety of reasons. Dr. Davidson sees patients who are undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures such as comprehensive ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling and genetic amniocentesis. She also consults with patients who have medical and surgical disorders coincident with or prior to pregnancy, which includes heart disease, chronic hypertension, diabetes/other endocrinologic disorders, kidney/gastrointestinal diseases and infectious diseases. Otherwise healthy women who may require these services are those whose pregnancies are at markedly increased risk for adverse outcomes, such as those with abnormal serum screens, multiple gestations, recurrent preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes or growth abnormalities of the fetus.
Program Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Lisa Foglia joined MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists in September 2022. She recently retired from the US Army after over 24 years of service. She completed her Residency and MFM Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center. She was most recently the Designated Institutional Official at Womack Army Medical Center at Ft. Bragg, NC. She enjoys teaching residents and fellows and was the OB/Gyn Residency Program Director at Madigan for seven years. She has special interests in medical education, health equity and simulation. She is also active in ACOG, and currently serves as the Chair of the Armed Forces District.
Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with her dog Sophie, yoga and enjoying all the culinary delights that Asheville has to offer.
Heather Miracle is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, which means that she can diagnosis and treat women throughout their pregnancies and throughout their lifespan―from adolescence to old age. Many women choose to have a nurse practitioner as their primary provider for things like Pap smears, breast exams, and other routine gynecologic services, as well as prenatal care. Heather has a special interest in pregnant patients who have diabetes. She is originally from eastern Pennsylvania and has lived in the Midwest, but has happily settled in Asheville with her family where they enjoy an active outdoor life in the mountains.