Virtual reality adds new dimension to pregnancy care

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New tech is revolutionizing the way midwives train for their profession. Researchers at Australia's University of Newcastle are using virtual reality to teach one of life's most complex processes.

Midwives have traditionally been taught with textbooks, dummies and clinical experience. However, this virtual reality headset is showing midwifery students the stages of childbearing and the effects on the body.

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"It really allows you to immerse yourself in the learning," says midwifery student Erin Bonett, "It definitely bridges that gap between the textbook and the clinical environment.”

Headset wearers are able to view the stages of pregnancy in three dimensions.They can also change conditions to test various scenarios and even add potential complications.

"Then they can actually get in, hands-on and manipulate that as they start to understand these things that are unfolding," explains midwifery lecturer Donovan Jones from the University of Newcastle.

The prototype is set to be trialed in midwifery classes for the first time this year. But the hope is to also commercialize the product and get it into the hands of expecting parents.

Midwives in training say it's already helping. "When I was in a real-life emergency situation I was a lot more confident," says Bonett."I just helped the doctor."

Source(s): AP