Research Panel 2

General session

DATE: Sunday, November 10th
TIME: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
FACULTY: Nancy A. Niemczyk, CNM, PhD, FACNM and Emmanuel Komladzah, MSN, RN

This research panel includes two presentations:

Prolonged Second Stage: Does Transferring Matter?

It has been demonstrated that prolonged second stage labor is associated with higher incidences of maternal and newborn complications both in hospital and birth center settings. What is not known is whether transfer of clients with prolonged second stage to the hospital improves these outcomes. This presentation will attempt to answer this question using data from the AABC Perinatal Data Registry.

Neonatal Outcomes of Newborns of the Gestational Age Range of 36 to 43 Weeks at Freestanding Birth Centers

The rising popularity of freestanding birth centers in the U.S., marked by a 13.2% increase in births in 2020, highlights the shift towards community-based birth settings and underscores the urgent need for research on how gestational age affects birth outcomes and transfer rates in these environments. However, the outcome of newborns of differing gestational ages born in freestanding birth centers has not been assessed.

This study aims to 1) determine the gestational age distribution of newborns born in freestanding birth centers and 2) assess the outcomes of newborns born within the gestational age ranges of 36 weeks to 43 weeks at freestanding birth centers. The primary outcome will be the transfer of newborns from the birth center to hospital care. Secondary outcomes will include Apgar scores, need for resuscitation, birth asphyxia, birth weight, breastfeeding initiation and at discharge and 6 weeks, and perinatal death.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study using data from the America Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry (PDR) from 2007 to 2023, will be conducted to investigate the neonatal outcomes among infants born within the gestational age ranges of 36 weeks to 43 weeks at the freestanding birth centers.

This study will address a critical gap in knowledge regarding safety parameters based on gestational age in the birth center setting. Findings can facilitate evidence-based clinical guidelines, education, and quality improvement initiatives to optimize birth center safety. This will assist pregnant women in making informed choices between hospital and birth center delivery.

Faculty