Abstract

  • Background: When examining most non-Westernized societies, parturients hold all the power in the birthing space with traditional birth attendants and medical staff serving as guiding forces and protectors, not directors of the process. Social media in Western countries is filled with stories from birthing people who felt unsupported, ignored, or discriminated against by their healthcare providers; this is particularly prevalent in parturients who express a preference for non-supine birthing positions. Methods: This work is a review of the existing body of literature on quantitative and qualitative outcome measures of alternative birthing positions. In total, 44 articles were analyzed and synthesized exploring second-stage labor duration, maternal hemorrhage, neonatal APGAR scores, and perineal injury. Results: Quantitative outcome measures of perineal injury, duration of second-stage labor, and immediate postpartum maternal and neonatal outcomes demonstrated notable heterogeneity. There is no consensus that alternative birthing positions are more harmful than non-flexible sacrum positions. The existing body of evidence concludes that flexible sacrum positions are favorable for decreased second- stage duration. The data on neonatal outcomes, parturient outcomes, and perineal injury between sacrum-flexible and non-sacrum-flexible positions is heterogeneous. Conclusion: There is no significant trend in medical evidence to suggest increased risk in alternative, flexible-sacrum positions. Birth outcomes are multivariable, and any decision-making must be individualized to accommodate the patient’s medical status and comfort. It is important to provide pregnant people with evidence-based counseling on potential outcomes associated with a birth position.

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Document Type

Master's Project

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Physician Assistant (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Physician Assistant

College

College of Health Sciences and Technology

Advisor

Heidi Miller

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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