Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Prenatal low-risk, healthy, adult women (greater than or equal to 18 years of age), including: 1. Able to speak and understand English 2. Women with a singleton gestation 3. Able to ambulate with no mobility restrictions (i.e., no difficulty getting from seated to standing) 4. Less than class III obesity (BMI \<40kg/m squared) at initiation of prenatal care 5. No active infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, herpes simplex virus outbreak (on prophylaxis acceptable), group B strep positive is acceptable 6. No pre-existing medical conditions such as: heart disease, uncontrolled asthma, diabetes of any type, chronic hypertension, or other condition that requires continuous observation and/or activity restrictions 7. No high-risk pregnancy conditions: including preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm gestation, multiple gestation, substance abuse, placental abruption or other unexplained vaginal bleeding, previous cesarean section, suspected fetal macrosomia (\>4500gm) or intrauterine growth restrictions (\<10th percentile), or other condition that requires continuous observation and/or activity restrictions Labor inclusion criteria: 8. Greater than 37 weeks and less than 42 completed weeks gestation in vertex presentation 9. Not hypertensive or febrile (two blood pressures 140/90 four hours apart; two fevers of over 100.4 one hour apart) 10. Category 1 fetal heart tones (obtained on a 20-minute admission external fetal monitor strip) 11. Amniotic sac may be intact or ruptured. If ruptured, amniotic fluid must be clear. Exclusion Criteria: * Women will be excluded from the study if they do not meet above inclusion criteria or they will be further excluded under the following circumstances: 1. Known need for cesarean section 2. Participant may be excluded from the study at any time at the discretion of the birth attendant (reason for study exclusion will be documented but will remain in the study group previously selected based on intention to treat).