Computer scientists at the University of East Anglia in England are expanding the horizons of childbirth. The Daily Mail reports that researchers there have invented a new program that gives a 3D simulation of a baby inside the mother's body, and shows how the child is likely to maneuver during childbirth.
Here's how it works. Programmers input data about the mother's anatomical measurements (pelvic size and shape, particularly), and use ultrasound to gather detailed measurements of the baby. All these numbers generate a 3D simulation.
The program then uses established medical knowledge about the physics of childbirth to predict a baby's movement during delivery. For example, it's common for babies to rotate while passing through the pelvis, and to assume particular positions during the descent down the birth canal. This computer model takes that general information and applies it to a specific baby and mommy. It can even take into account the force of the mother's pushing during labor, and show how a doctor's hands can interact with the baby's head.
Where the program may prove especially useful is in predicting complications. If a baby's head or shoulders measures larger than the mother's pelvis, for instance, the 3D model may show that scenario. Knowing that possibility ahead of time would allow doctors to advise patients when a cesarean section may be warranted.
Researchers hope this program will help midwives in particular, who often rely on videos and mannequins for their training. Now, doctors and midwives will be able to get an idea of what to expect during delivery on a case-by-case basis.
I think this is a cool idea built on stunning technology, but I just have to smile a little at our hubris. We're attempting to predict childbirth, which, by nature, tends to be rather unpredictable. Even the most "textbook" labor and delivery may have an unforeseen quirk or two.
During my last childbirth, for example, everything was going along perfectly predictably... until my baby went into distress. It turned out her umbilical cord was extremely short, only about 8 inches, and the final few minutes of her delivery were rather tense as she pulled against her cord. None of us predicted that!
Still, this could prove to be a very valuable tool for high-risk mamas and their babies. And if it means that doctors and midwives come into the delivery room feeling more prepared and confident, that's certainly valuable — especially if the real life situation proves to be far more complicated and far less predictable than the tidy computer model.