2024 Funded Micro Grant
Supporting Low-Risk Births through Non-Pharmaceutical Methods
Samantha Bowerman, Sia Attwood, Katie Conn, Sharon Rush, Melissa Faust, Ruth Rose, Sej Thaker, Brooke Edwards, Kayla Paulosky, Jeanne Sheffield, Arthur Jason Vaught
Department of Gyn-OB
57-59% of our deliveries consist of patients that come in laboring and may meet criteria for intermittent monitoring as a low-risk patient. However, many of these patients are not sufficiently educated on what their options for alternative pain relief measures are, or don’t feel comfortable or know how to advocate for low intervention labor. Currently, the unit does not have access to many supplies or equipment that can support patients during labor without pharmacological interventions.
By using intermittent monitoring, rather than continuous electronic fetal monitoring as is the current standard of care, this unit aims to keep low risk patients’ low risk and improve their mobility, which can lead to better coping and help labor progress naturally. Funds from this grant will go towards purchasing non-pharmaceutical tools to help patients cope in labor, such as inflatable birth supports massage guns, and yoga mats.