York St John becomes the first university in the UK to use revolutionary maternity simulator that actually gives birth
Midwifery students can use Mama Anne to prepare for the most challenging scenarios in labour and birth.
York St John University has become the first UK higher education institution to integrate the Mama Anne birthing simulator into their new midwifery programme. Mama Anne is the most cutting-edge maternity simulator currently available and offers tangible, physical experience of birthing a baby. It births a manikin baby and uses advanced technologies to mirror real life clinical situations.
With safety at the forefront of midwifery training, the simulator offers a safe environment for students to practice the sights, sounds and physical scenarios of birth. Students can train on the simulator for obstetric emergencies, including the leading causes of maternal mortality.
York St John’s 2 simulators offer a wide range of features to practice birth. These include:
- Obstetric emergency practice – including scenarios like postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia / eclampsia, sepsis and shoulder dystocia
- Observations – vital signs for mother and fetal heart rate for baby
- ‘Blood’ and other fluids
- Patient dialogue – Mama Anne ‘talks’ so the student midwives can engage the birthing simulator in dialogue. Done either through recorded simulator responses or in real time via hidden speakers for role play
- Birth positions – fully poseable so the simulator will labour and give birth in a range of postures
- Consent – designed to promote respectful care and will cry out if touched when consent hasn’t been given
- Tactile elements – features a cuttable cord and realistic resistant injection and intravenous (IV) sites
The 2 new simulators at York St John have already been incorporated into the University’s Paramedic Science training and will be available for students of all years of the Midwifery (BSc) which launches in September 2026.
Rebecca Beggan, Midwifery programme lead at York St John University said:
“Simulation and “hands on” learning are key aspects within the Midwifery programme at York St John University. The incorporation of the Mama Anne simulator offers learners the opportunity to gain invaluable learning and exposure of real-life maternity situations in a safe and supportive environment. The advanced technologies enable the simulated scenarios to mirror real life situations making the experience feel as close to real life as possible.”
Michelle Trotter, Educator at Laerdal Medical, the company behind Mama Anne, said
“York St John University is the first Higher Education Institution in the UK to incorporate Mama Anne simulator into their innovative midwifery programme. By incorporating Mama Anne and other high-fidelity simulators into the curriculum, York St John University is set to provide their students with the skills and confidence they need to be successful. I believe with the advanced technology that York St John is equipped with, they are not just preparing student midwives but are also contributing to shape the future of maternal healthcare.”
More about studying Midwifery at York St John https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/midwifery/midwifery-bsc-hons/