Welcome to the virtual childbirth education program!
Fear of childbirth is growing alarmingly and is currently 20-25% in the US. The cesarean rate is 30%. Anxiety and stress during pregnancy are rising. All of that can cause unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities and increased interventions.
Only 50% of parents take parental classes. They cannot always visit the hospital they are going to and stress about not knowing enough about what is happening and what to do when labor begins. However, most parents are getting information online and have problems navigating misinformation.
This VR childbirth education is accessible by a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, and a VR headset.
For the most immersive experience, wear a VR headset.
This is the original Finnish demo below.
English demo (first pilot with only a few videos)
Publications
- Midwives’ Account of Virtual Reality Childbirth Education. Marjaana Siivola and Lauri Malmi (2024). Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare, 2024.
- Flipping Childbirth Education. Marjaana Siivola and Lauri Malmi (2024). Journal of Perinatal Education 3/33
- Advantages of virtual reality childbirth education. Marjaana Siivola, Teemu Leinonen ja Lauri Malmi (2024). Computers & Education: X Reality, Volume 4, 2024.
- Virtual Reality Childbirth Education With 360° Videos. Marjaana Siivola, Eero Tiainen, Eeva Ekholm, Teemu Leinonen ja Lauri Malmi (2023). Journal of Perinatal Education 1/31
- Perhe- ja synnytysvalmennus perheiden hyvinvoinnin tukijana : Voisiko virtuaalitodellisuudesta olla apua? Siivola, Marjaana; Leinonen, Teemu (2022). Yhteiskuntapolitiikka 3/2022
Content:
- Intro
- Birthing pool
- Acupuncture and acupressure
- Laughing gas
- Being on all fours leaning a birthing ball
- Sidelaying position and the use of a peanut ball
- Warmth for pain relief
- Hip pressure
- Use (or not) of a smartphone during labour
- Wall bars and squat
- Quasha
- Relaxation exercise
- Upright position
- Fetal hearth monitoring
- Birth wishes
- Eating and drinking during labor
- TENS
- Supported upright position
View from a VR headset