Bristol-based Limbs & Things delivers new training product to make assisted births safer

Bristol-based medical simulator company, Limbs & Things, has released a new product to help medical trainees practice assisted deliveries of babies, as assisted deliveries continue to increase globally.

Limbs & Things has worked closely with medical professionals at the PROMPT Foundation, Southmead Hospital, in Bristol and other key opinion leaders to develop the new Assisted Vaginal Birth (AVB) Module, which trains clinicians to use instruments that aid the delivery of a baby. This is a key skill for all specialist obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in the UK and USA.

The AVB Module works with Limbs & Things’ world-leading PROMPT Flex birthing simulator to help trainee medical professionals learn correct techniques and use of instruments to deliver a baby safely, with minimal risk to mother and baby.

Reasons why instruments may be used to deliver a baby include concerns about the baby’s health during labour, labour not progressing as expected or the mother being unable to push during the labour.

In the UK, 15% of all births are assisted, either with forceps or ventouse (vacuum cup), which rises to 33% of all births in first time mothers.*

Experts believe these rates are likely to increase because specialists are becoming more reliant on assisted vaginal births as they learn of more risks associated with pregnant mothers who have previously given birth via caesarean section.**

Anne Allin, commercial director, Limbs & Things, said: “With the prevalence of assisted vaginal births increasing across the world, we are really pleased to release this new AVB Module, which works in conjunction with our highly successful PROMPT Flex birthing simulator. The Module will provide excellent training to assisted birth practitioner midwives and doctors learning how to perform assisted births, and make giving birth safer for both mum and baby.”

To find out more, visit Limbs & Things’ website here www.limbsandthings.com.

Notes:

*References: (1) NHS Maternity Statistics, England 2016-17 last accessed 04 February 2020; 

(2) Anim-Somuah M, Smyth RM, Jones L. Epidural versus non-epidural or no analgesia in labour.Cochrane Database Syst Rev2011;12:CD000331. Update 2018; (3) Hodnett  ED,  Downe  S,  Walsh  D.  Alternative versus conventional institutional settings for birth. Cochrane DatabaseSyst Rev2012;8:CD000012 

**Source  

Staff Writer