Women's Prenatal and Labor Experiences in a Hospital With an Early-Labor Lounge.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the information that women with low-risk pregnancies received during the prenatal period about latent labor and the early-labor lounge (ELL) and their subsequent use of the ELL. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design with survey. SETTING/LOCAL PROBLEM: Community hospital in the northeastern United States with a low-risk cesarean birth rate of 33%, which exceeds the national target rate of 23.9%. PARTICIPANTS: Low-risk, nulliparous, pregnant women with a term singleton vertex fetus at hospital admission (N = 67). INTERVENTION/MEASUREMENTS: An electronic survey was administered before hospital discharge following birth. The survey assessed prenatal education, use of the ELL, admission characteristics, and birth satisfaction. Descriptive analysis was used. RESULTS: Nearly half (43.9%) of the women surveyed used the ELL. ELL users received prenatal care (72.3%), knew signs of active labor (93.1%), and had a cesarean birth rate of 7.1%. Significantly greater proportions of women prenatally cared for by midwives reported knowledge of the signs of early labor (100% vs. 80%; χ2 = 4.4, p = .04) and of the availability of the ELL (18.2% vs. 70.6%; χ2 = 15.2, p < .001). A range of activities were offered in the ELL, and at least 75% of women indicated that all activities were helpful during latent labor. Birth satisfaction scores, measured on a scale of 0 to 40, with 40 indicating greatest satisfaction, ranged from 22 to 35 among ELL participants. CONCLUSION: An ELL is a care innovation that hospitals can consider for providing support to women with low-risk pregnancies during the latent phase of labor. Women who used the ELL reported feeling that it provided guidance and support. An ELL is a woman-centered option for delayed admission.

Use of an Early Labor Lounge to Promote Admission in Active Labor.

Professional maternity care organizations within the United States are aligned in the goal to prevent the first cesarean birth in nulliparous women with a term, singleton, vertex fetus. Currently, one in 3 women are at risk for having a cesarean birth. The most common reason for cesarean in the United States is labor dystocia. The evidence supports delaying admission to the birthing unit until active labor is established, thereby minimizing the inadvertent diagnosis of labor dystocia. Providers are familiar with the rationale supporting delayed admission to the birthing unit until active labor is established; however, there is very little evidence on how to effectively promote this delay. Provider apprehension and the lack of early labor support are challenges to sending women home to await the onset of active labor. Maternal anxiety, fear, pain, and unpreparedness also play a part in this reluctance. To address these obstacles, South Shore Hospital created an early labor lounge with stations aimed at instilling confidence in the birth team, promoting teamwork, facilitating relaxation, and reducing anxiety for laboring women. A literature review focusing on women's perceptions of promoting admission in active labor, maternal anxiety, and nonpharmacologic strategies for managing early labor are discussed within the context of the creation, implementation, and evaluation of an early labor lounge.