Field Birth: A Video Program and Resource Website for Care Providers of Newborns Delivered Outside of the Hospital

Introduction

Despite the rise in planned and unplanned home and field births, the opportunities and resources for pre-hospital care providers to participate in visual demonstration and to gain fundamental information regarding critical concepts of newborn care are limited. The purpose of this program is to provide pre-hospital care providers with a video resource education program and website with resources for newborn care immediately following delivery.

Method

The program Field Birth was created for providers to learn about and visualize newborn care and resuscitation techniques following delivery. The website and course modules were content validated and evaluated for usability by 5 content experts including 2 nurse midwives, 2 paramedics and 1 emergency medical technician. Ten 30 minute video modules demonstrating newborn care following delivery were created: preparing for Baby, assisting Baby at birth, well Baby, every Baby, sick Baby, early Baby, warming and transporting Baby, communication about Baby, and putting it all together about Baby. A pre and post-test was created to test learning. Prior to the live launch of the website, the modules were piloted using a paramedic and EMT class enrolled at a nearby university.  

Results/Beneficiaries

The target beneficiary audience is infants delivered outside of the hospital. The target program audience is pre-hospital care providers.

 It is anticipated that 30 participants will complete the pre and post-test and 10 learning modules. Pre and post-test comparison scoring  ________.  As part of the evaluation, participants were also asked for commentary about the program and website. Based on feedback, changes can be made for the program to continue.

Activities

Use of the website and links as resources for pre-hospital care providers. Ten video modules discussing and demonstrating newborn care and birth resuscitation methods were developed.

Limitations

The pilot and launch of Field Birth was initially directed towards emergency medical technicians and paramedics. Further marketing of the program to the midwifery and doulas is forthcoming.