BirthPlace Statistics and Definitions

616 total deliveries, 625 babies, 4 sets of Twins* for period January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013. *For this report, a twin or multiple birth is counted as one delivery.

72% Deliveries in Birthing Rooms (LDRP): The percentage of all deliveries that took place in the same room where the mother labored, rather than moving her to a separate delivery or operating room.

28% Cesarean births: percentage of all births that were by Cesarean section. A Cesarean section is a surgical operation wherein the doctor takes the baby out through an incision in the mother’s abdomen.

17% Primary Cesarean births: the mother’s first Cesarean, regardless of whether she has given birth vaginally before.

11% Repeat Cesarean births: a Cesarean when the mother has had one or more Cesarean births before.

80% Vaginal birth after Cesarean: This is when a woman has had a Cesarean delivery before but births this baby vaginally. This percentage reflects the number of women who labored and delivered vaginally. According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, this is a safe alternative.

+ 55% Annual percentage of deliveries by certified nurse-midwife. A Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a nurse who has advanced education in Midwifery and provides obstetrical and gynecological services for women.

76% Labors which were externally monitored: an external monitor is a machine that measures baby’s heart rate and contractions by two belts that are fastened around the mother's abdomen. The heart rate, which can be a sign of the baby’s well being, may also be checked by listening through the mother’s abdomen.

9% Labors that were continuously internally monitored: An internal monitor is the same as the external monitor, except the baby’s heart rate is measured by a wire passed through the vagina (birth canal) and fastened under the skin of the baby’s scalp. Usually the external belt still will be used to measure contractions.

15% Intermittent fetal monitoring.

19% Labors which were induced: inductions occur when labor is started by artificial means rather than beginning naturally. Usually, a drug called Pitocin is given through an intravenous line in the mother’s arm. The membranes (bag of water) may also be broken.

20% Labors that were augmented: This is when labor contractions are helped along by an artificial means, usually with a drug called Pitocin. This is usually done because the contractions the mother is having are not strong enough or regular enough to dilate the cervix and cause the labor to progress.

55% Women who receive epidural anesthesia: when a drug is injected into the mother’s back so she will not feel pain below her breasts or waist, yet she is still awake. It is used in active labor, and for Cesarean births.

1.7% Women who receive general anesthesia: when the mother is put to sleep for the birth. It is necessary for very rare, severe emergencies.

17% Women receiving spinal anesthesia: This is when a drug is injected into the spinal canal in the lower back so the mother will not feel any pain below her breasts or waist. With a vaginal delivery the mother is awake but may not be able to push the baby out without using forceps or a vacuum suction cup. Spinal anesthesia is used more often for a Cesarean delivery.

4% Births assisted by a vacuum suction cup.

<1% Delivery Assisted by Forceps. This is when a specially designed surgical instrument is used to guide the baby’s head through the birth canal during the actual birth process.

5% Women receiving episiotomies: An episiotomy is a small incision made in the perineum before the baby is born. This is done to prevent the mother’s vaginal tissue from tearing during the birth process.

84% Percentage of women breastfeeding on discharge: the percentage of all mothers who are breastfeeding when they go home from the hospital. Breastfeeding, even for a short period, has many health benefits for babies.

78% Male babies who were circumcised: Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis.

Annual percentage of deliveries utilizing: