The MOBY Study: Efficacy of Birth Mobility

NCT ID: NCT07052331

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

714 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-25

Study Completion Date

2028-08-31

Brief Summary

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This randomized clinical trial investigates whether and how maternal mobility during labor influences birth outcomes in primiparous women. The study compares standard obstetric care with care that includes a birth mobility system. The primary aim is to assess whether the system helps reduce secondary cesarean section rates. Secondary objectives include evaluation of labor progression, medication use, newborn health, and user satisfaction. Participation occurs during birth and includes the collection of routine clinical data and a short questionnaire afterward.

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Labor Duration Cesarean Section Rate Maternal Mobility Healthy

Keywords

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Birth mobility Maternal satisfaction Labor and delivery Neonatal outcomes

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Birth Mobility System

Participants receive standard obstetric care and have access to a birth mobility system installed on the birthing bed. Use of the system is voluntary and guided by medical professionals. Participants view a video explaining the system's operation. Birth mobility data is collected passively.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Birth Mobility System

Intervention Type DEVICE

Participants receive standard obstetric care and have access to a birth mobility system installed on the birthing bed. Use of the system is voluntary and guided by medical professionals. Participants view a video explaining the system's operation. Birth mobility data is collected passively.

Standard obstetric care

Participants receive standard obstetric care using a conventional birthing bed. No access is given to the birth mobility system. Birth mobility data is collected passively.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Birth Mobility System

Participants receive standard obstetric care and have access to a birth mobility system installed on the birthing bed. Use of the system is voluntary and guided by medical professionals. Participants view a video explaining the system's operation. Birth mobility data is collected passively.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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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
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Kantonsspital Baden

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vibwife AG

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Prof. Dr. med. Leonhard Schäffer

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Kantonsspital Baden

Locations

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Kantonsspital Baden

Baden, Canton of Aargau, Switzerland

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Switzerland

Central Contacts

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Prof. Dr. med. Leonhard Schäffer

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +41 56 486 35 07

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Prof. Dr. med. Leonhard Schäffer

Role: primary

References

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Romano AM, Lothian JA. Promoting, protecting, and supporting normal birth: a look at the evidence. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2008 Jan-Feb;37(1):94-104; quiz 104-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2007.00210.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18226163 (View on PubMed)

Hanson L. Second-stage labor care: challenges in spontaneous bearing down. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2009 Jan-Mar;23(1):31-9; quiz 40-1. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0b013e318196526b.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19209057 (View on PubMed)

Opiyo N, Kingdon C, Oladapo OT, Souza JP, Vogel JP, Bonet M, Bucagu M, Portela A, McConville F, Downe S, Gulmezoglu AM, Betran AP. Non-clinical interventions to reduce unnecessary caesarean sections: WHO recommendations. Bull World Health Organ. 2020 Jan 1;98(1):66-68. doi: 10.2471/BLT.19.236729. Epub 2019 Nov 29. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31902964 (View on PubMed)

Monod C, Granado C, Mueller D, Gisin M, Ries JJ, Horn S, Erlanger TE, Hoesli I. Safety and acceptance of "Vibwife", a new moving mattress to support mobilization during labor: Result of a clinical study. Midwifery. 2021 Dec;103:103096. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103096. Epub 2021 Jul 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34311336 (View on PubMed)

Ondeck M. Healthy birth practice #2: walk, move around, and change positions throughout labor. J Perinat Educ. 2014 Fall;23(4):188-93. doi: 10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.188.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25411538 (View on PubMed)

Roberts J, Hanson L. Best practices in second stage labor care: maternal bearing down and positioning. J Midwifery Womens Health. 2007 May-Jun;52(3):238-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jmwh.2006.12.011.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17467590 (View on PubMed)

Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Styles C. Maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Aug 20;(8):CD003934. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003934.pub3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23959763 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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103.215 IP-LS

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2025-D0016

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2025-D0016

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id