A nurse-led initiative at St. Luke’s University Health Network is helping reduce cesarean-section rates by focusing on labor support and movement-based techniques, hospital officials said.
The program, known as SPARK — Supporting Physiological Approaches, Resilience and Knowledge — was introduced in early 2024 and aims to help mothers achieve vaginal births whenever safely possible.
Hospital leaders said the program trains labor and delivery nurses in techniques designed to improve fetal positioning during labor, one of the key factors that can lead to cesarean deliveries.
“By emphasizing education, hands-on support, and patient-centered care, SPARK underscores the powerful role our nurses play in improving outcomes for both women and their babies,” Seymour says.
The initiative was developed by a team of labor and delivery nurses at St. Luke’s Anderson Campus and has since expanded to other facilities, including Allentown and Upper Bucks.
One of the most common reasons for a C-section is fetal malposition, particularly when the baby is in the occiput posterior, or “sunny-side up,” position. The SPARK program equips nurses with evidence-based strategies to guide mothers through movements that can help reposition the baby during labor.
Officials said the program has shown measurable results. Within six months of its launch, C-section rates among appropriate patients at the Anderson Campus dropped to 17.5%, down from 24.8% — nearly a one-third reduction.
Patient participation has played a key role in the program’s success, with most women opting to try the techniques once the potential benefits are explained, including avoiding surgery and reducing recovery time.
St. Luke’s officials said the program reflects a broader commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing care practices across the health system.
