“As first-time parents, this program helped us in learning a lot of new things, which made our pregnancy journey beautiful. The care provided by doctors and staff was compassionate.”
– New Mom A
“We would 100 percent do this program again! With it being our first, we were brought so much comfort going through this with parents on our same timeline.”
– New Mom B
“We loved it! My husband is also so happy he was included. We both learned so much in preparation for our first baby.”
– New Mom C
“We thought the program was excellent! It made us a lot more comfortable being able to discuss things as a group of couples going through the same experience.”
– New Mom D
“The program was great! We learned a lot and it made us confident and excited for parenthood.”
– New Mom E
The reviews are unanimous. Premier Women’s Health of Minnesota OBGYN West’s inaugural Premier Prenatal Collaborative is a resounding success, with nine beautiful babies, nine healthy mothers, and nine relieved fathers to show for it.
“I’m glad I could take your call!” Dr. Jennifer Smolinski’s voice rang out from my phone. “I was called to the hospital for an urgent delivery just a couple of hours ago. Fortunately, the baby seemed to be in a hurry to make his grand appearance.
“The deliveries I perform for my patients are only the culminating moments of the time we share together. That’s why my husband Dr. Matthew Bigos and I love being with OBGYN West. We develop genuine, lasting relationships with our patients – often before they so much as think of conceiving, and long after they have become moms. We’re here for the whole journey!
“That’s what motivated us to begin offering the Premier Prenatal Collaborative: a physician-led eight-session program combining one-on-one care with group classes. It helps moms-to-be and their partners gain greater confidence, develop a deeper understanding of prenatal and postpartum care, and form friendships with other parents looking forward to similar due dates.
“The Premier Prenatal Collaborative may be the first program of its kind in the Twin Cities, but it isn’t totally our invention. It’s based on a model of prenatal care that is already popular throughout the East Coast, and which I observed firsthand during my own residency in Pennsylvania. Studies have shown it to improve birth outcomes, including reduced risk of premature birth, cesarean delivery, and emergency/triage visits.
“Better yet, gathering as many as 20 parents-to-be per program allows us to spend substantially more time with each than routine care alone would have. And while unavoidable circumstances often require doctors like my husband and I to cancel one-on-one appointments, Premier Prenatal Collaborative sessions are set in stone. Participants will see a physician at each and every one.
“Each monthly, 90-minute session is divided into multiple phases. The first is dedicated to individual consultations, during which we check vitals and answer any private questions participants might have. Next comes the group presentation, in which we discuss topics that pertain to the gestational age shared by every expecting mother in the room. We finish with group activities, or a special guest speaker followed by audience Q and A. For example, we welcomed a nutritionist to address the subject of healthy diet and weight gain during pregnancy, as well as a lactation expert to speak about all the different types of breast pumps that are available.
“Participants in the first-ever Premier Prenatal Collaborative took peace of mind from learning which pregnancy symptoms are perfectly normal or deserving of medical intervention. They understood that they weren’t alone if they experienced common complications such as gestational diabetes, kidney stones, preeclampsia, mastitis, low milk production, or postpartum depression, as well as what they could do to realize healthier, more comfortable transitions into motherhood.
“Every participant put their new knowledge to great use. One presented to the hospital upon recognizing the signs of preterm labor at 34 weeks. A second identified the signs of preeclampsia, and quickly presented to the hospital before her blood pressures became severe. Another needed a C-section – a procedure I understand all too well, having received it myself on three separate occasions – and expressed feeling confident knowing precisely what to expect.
“My husband and I delivered every baby belonging to our first cohort of Premier Prenatal Collaborative participants. Parents’ impressions of the program were universally positive, which excites us for the sessions we will soon begin hosting for those with upcoming due dates. If you expect to be expecting in 2027, then now isn’t too soon to sign up for the Premier Prenatal Collaborative at OBGYN West’s Chaska clinic!”
Visit PremierWomensHealthMN.com to learn more about OBGYN West’s health partnerships for life, or call (952) 249-2000 to book an appointment at any of their four clinics throughout the west metro.