The MOBY Study: Efficacy of Birth Mobility

The MOBY study is a randomized clinical investigation evaluating the efficacy of maternal birth mobility on delivery outcomes in first-time mothers. The study takes place at Kantonsspital Baden and includes 714 participants.

The aim of the study is to examine whether certain positions and mobility during labor can positively influence the birth process. These insights may improve support for women in labor in the future.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups:

The control group receives the usual hospital infrastructure, including a conventional static birthing bed.

The intervention group receives, in addition to standard care, access to a CE-marked birth mobility system that offers supportive movement options. Participants in this group are shown a short instructional video.

In both groups, positioning and movement during labor are recorded passively using a non-intrusive monitoring setup. These recordings are not noticeable for the participants and do not interfere with clinical care. The medical team continues to provide position recommendations according to each individual situation and based on current standards in midwifery and obstetrics. Women are always free to move and position themselves as they wish.

After birth, participants are asked to complete a short questionnaire about their birth experience. A similar questionnaire is completed by the midwife.

The primary objective is to determine whether the use of the birth mobility system is associated with a lower rate of secondary cesarean sections. Secondary objectives include analysis of labor duration, analgesia and oxytocin use, pain levels, birth mode, neonatal outcomes, and satisfaction of participants and healthcare providers. In addition, movement characteristics observed during labor will be explored to support future research and care improvements.

This is a Category A1 study involving CE-marked medical devices used according to their intended purpose. The study follows ISO 14155, the current version of the Declaration of Helsinki, ICH-GCP, and all legally applicable national regulations. The study has been approved by the responsible Ethics Committee (EKNZ). All personal data are pseudonymized and handled in compliance with Swiss and international data protection standards. No risks beyond standard obstetric care are introduced by participation.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• German- or English-speaking
• Able to provide written informed consent with capacity of judgment
• Low-risk singleton pregnancy
• Primiparous woman
• Cephalic presentation
• Gestational age at delivery ≥ 37 + 0 weeks

Exclusion criteria

• Multiparous woman
• Not capable of understanding instructions for use of the mobility system (intervention group)
• Scheduled (elective) cesarean section
• Contraindication to vaginal delivery
• Multiple pregnancy
• Breech presentation
• Estimated fetal weight < 10th percentile or > 90th percentile
• Relevant fetal congenital abnormalities affecting neonatal adaptation
• Pre-existing medical conditions significantly affecting mobility (e.g., orthopedic conditions, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury)
• Relevant intrapartum bleeding
• Preeclampsia or HELLP syndrome