The effect of delivering in a birth chair on duration of second stage labor, fetal outcome, and maternal blood loss was examined in a retrospective study. The sample consisted of 60 primiparous women, 37 to 41 weeks gestation with a normal pregnancy and labor, 30 delivering on a traditional delivery table and 30 delivering in a birth chair. Comparisons were made between groups for mean duration of second stage labor, mean Apgar scores at one and five minutes, and mean maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit values during the pre- and postpartum periods. No significant difference was found between delivery table and birth chair groups for mean duration of second stage labor (birth chair, X = 60 minutes versus delivery table, X = 43 minutes, t = 1.66, p = .10). Mean Apgar scores at one and five minutes were nearly identical. Statistically significant differences existed between groups in mean maternal hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Both the mean hemoglobin and the mean hematocrit upon admission were significantly higher in the birth chair group (p .027). However, postpartally the birth chair group had significantly lower mean hemoglobin and hematocrit values (p .025). These findings suggest that the birth chair, as an alternate delivery method, is safe in terms of fetal outcome but presents no advantage to the mother in terms of shorter second stage labor. Further investigation of maternal blood loss is recommended to rule out possible untoward effects.
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