Immersive virtual reality headsets are being trialled as a "powerful" distraction tool to aid mothers with pain while in labour.
For the first time in New Zealand, research conducted by Victoria University of Wellington saw 19 mothers given virtual reality (VR) headsets in which they could choose an immersive, relaxing scene such as a beach, a snowy mountain or underwater dolphin experience to distract them from the pain.
The study found 94% of women would use VR in labour again, and 94% also would recommend VR to a pregnant friend.
Lead author Lorna Massov told Breakfast she had used "a variety of tools" to help mothers with pain relief during the 30 years she had been a midwife.
"We often encourage women when they're in labour to 'go to another place' … well virtual reality is a technology that can — literally — take you to another place."
"It's very immersive, you feel like you're in that world more than the physical world," she said.
Massov said it was a "very powerful and low-level intervention" that women can simply take off if they don't like it.
"We had some really good results with the study and importantly found that it was an entertaining and novel thing to use when they were in labour."
She said women are "increasingly anxious and quite fearful" about the birth process, which can lead to more a more painful and prolonged labour.
"The virtual reality was very effective in that it helped calm women, it helped to relax them and reduced their heart rate, which can only have a positive effect on the baby."
Massov said the women reported feeling "more in control" while wearing the headsets, which she said contributed to an overall positive birth experience.
She said the wireless headset technology is improving "all the time" and further studies will look at using mixed reality environments in the future.
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