Online Program

Oral

In recent years there has been considerable discussion concerning changing childbirth practices in the U.S., with two NIH conferences, an Institute of Medicine meeting and an array of films, books and websites devoted to the issue. The US maternity care system is failing to reliably offer high-quality, cost-effective maternity care to all populations, even when women have access to tertiary care centers. Planned home births are associated with excellent outcomes, high patient satisfaction, and cost savings. However, in North America controversy among maternity care providers around appropriate birth setting is pervasive, and research has demonstrated that provider opinion influences patient choice. Close to a half million babies are born prematurely each year in the United States. Prevention efforts can be augmented by preparation of a maternity nurse workforce with necessary skills to make timely preterm labor assessments. This presentation will focus on access to care across birth settings as well as provider and prematuretynprevention issues.

Session Objectives: Discuss recent trends in out of hospital birth in the US. Identify reliable options for women having baby's in the US. Discuss appropriate birth settings for low risk child bearing women. Discribe the process by which maternity nurses can develop enhanced assessment skills to more directly participate in efforts to reduce premature labor and birth.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)