In a move to reduce early admissions and cesarean section rates, labor and delivery nurses at Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center created a guided walking and movement tour for pregnant patients to promote a vaginal birth.
The early labor walk is the first of its kind at Kaiser Permanente’s 15 birthing centers in Northern California, said Spring Edwards, RN, who helped create its 9 stations throughout the hospital.
“A lot of these movements are great for helping the baby get in the right position for labor if you have no risk factors,” said Edwards. “The baby’s head has to be positioned the right way in the pelvis for a successful vaginal birth, and these movements help with that.”
The walk includes such movements as side lunges, toe taps, and hip circles, among others. Edwards and her colleagues will collect data on how many of those who go on the walk for up to 2 hours have vaginal births as opposed to C- sections. Since the walk became available February 16, 8 patients used it, and 7 had vaginal births as of late March, she said.
About 2,000 babies are born each year at the South Sacramento Medical Center and about 40,000 across Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.
In addition to helping position the baby for birth, the walk was created so patients who are not quite ready to be admitted to the hospital can stay rather than go home where things could suddenly change.
“This walk provides a safe place for patients to participate in purposeful movements while still waiting for labor progression,” said Jenny Valdez, RN, who helped create the walk. “If their labor progresses quickly, they are still in the hospital, avoiding a possible at-home delivery.”
Patients on the walk wear lanyards with a card inscribed with the message, “I’m On My Early Labor Walk.” The lanyard also has a QR code that takes them to a web page that guides them on the walk. If they feel labor is progressing, they can return to the birthing center to be evaluated.
Partners and spouses welcome
For birthing partners or husbands, the walk gives them a practical way to offer support.
“So far the fathers who went on the walk with their partners have been really excited,” said Valdez. “It gives them a task and purpose to help guide their partners through each station.”
The walk was inspired by a vaginal birth working group of clinicians at the South Sacramento hospital, said Ajani Hofert, nurse manager for Perinatal Services.
“I am so proud of our team for creating this program,” said Hofert. “The staff is really excited, and they want to see it placed in other Kaiser Permanente birthing centers.”
