ABOUT PVB

Promoting Vaginal Births (PVB) Initiative is a statewide effort to make childbirth safer for mothers and babies in Alabama. Currently, our state has a cesarean section (C-section) rate for low-risk, first-time mothers that is higher than the national average. While C-sections can be life-saving surgeries, many performed in Alabama may be avoidable, and they carry risks for both mothers and babies. For mothers, this includes a greater chance of serious bleeding, infection, and complications in future pregnancies. For babies, risks can include breathing problems after birth.

To address this, the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ALPQC) is helping local hospitals work together to support vaginal birth when it is a safe option. Through this partnership, hospitals will adopt proven best practices to improve care. This includes providing better labor support for mothers, improving patient education so families can be more involved in decisions, and ensuring medical teams use the most up-to-date methods for managing labor. The ultimate goal is to safely reduce the number of unnecessary C-sections, which will lead to a better and safer birthing experience for Alabama families, fewer complications, and healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies.