New software developed to predict risk of childbirth difficulties

New software has been developed and trialled that could prove useful in predicting and mitigating risks involved in childbirth in future.

Results from a new study have been presented at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting for Predibirth, a technology offering that can be used alongside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create simulations of birthing processes.

It provides a three-dimensional reconstruction of both the pelvis of the pregnant woman and the foetus, allowing clinicians to assess possible trajectories of the baby's head through the birth canal to predict difficult labour (dystocia).

The study found that the simulator was able to accurately predict dystocia in the majority of cases, proving a more reliable method than pelvimetry techniques.

Dr Olivier Ami, an obstetrician in the department of radiology at Antoine Beclere's Hospital at the Universite Paris Sud, said: "With this virtual childbirth software, the majority of C-sections could be planned rather than emergency and difficult instrumental extractions might disappear in the near future."

At present, NHS figures suggest that one in four babies in the UK is born via caesarean, with repeat cases comprising a quarter of this total.