MOBY: Birth mobility for first-time mothers during labor
The MOBY Study - Efficacy of Birth Mobility: Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Efficacy of Birth Mobility on Birth Outcomes in Primiparous Women With and Without a Birth Mobility System.
This trial tests whether using a birth mobility system during labor helps first-time mothers have fewer secondary cesarean sections and better delivery outcomes.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 714 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Vibwife AG Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 1 site (Baden, Canton of Aargau) |
| Trial ID | NCT07052331 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The randomized trial at Kantonsspital Baden enrolls 714 primiparous, low-risk women at term who are randomly assigned to standard care with a conventional birthing bed or to standard care plus access to a CE-marked birth mobility system with a short instructional video. Position and movement during labor are recorded passively by a non-intrusive monitoring setup, while the clinical team continues routine care and position recommendations. The primary outcome is the rate of secondary (intrapartum) cesarean sections, and secondary outcomes include labor progression, medication use, neonatal adaptation, and user satisfaction captured via short postnatal questionnaires for participants and midwives. Participation involves routine clinical data collection during birth and a brief questionnaire after delivery.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are term (≥37+0 weeks) first-time mothers with a low-risk singleton cephalic pregnancy who are ≥18 years old, speak German or English, can provide informed consent, and plan to deliver at Kantonsspital Baden.
Not a fit: Women with a scheduled cesarean, contraindications to vaginal birth, multiple pregnancy or breech presentation, estimated fetal weight below the 10th or above the 90th percentile, significant fetal abnormalities, preeclampsia/HELLP, relevant intrapartum bleeding, or pre-existing conditions that seriously limit mobility are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce emergency cesarean deliveries and improve labor progression and satisfaction for first-time mothers.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research indicates that upright positions and maternal mobility can shorten labor and reduce cesarean risk, but randomized evidence specifically testing a CE-marked birth mobility system is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where this trial is running
Baden, Canton of Aargau
- Kantonsspital Baden — Baden, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Prof. Dr. med. Leonhard Schäffer — Kantonsspital Baden
- Study coordinator: Prof. Dr. med. Leonhard Schäffer
- Email: leonhard.schaeffer@ksb.ch
- Phone: +41 56 486 35 07
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.