University of Liverpool Advances Childbirth Innovation with BirthGlide Clinical Feasibility Study

University of Liverpool Advances Childbirth Innovation with BirthGlide Clinical Feasibility Study

(IN BRIEF) The University of Liverpool is leading a new clinical study to test BirthGlide®, an innovative device designed to reduce trauma and complications during the second stage of labour. Backed by £1.5 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the project will see the device used at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in a first-in-human feasibility study involving 22 women. Developed to reduce resistance between the baby’s head and the birth canal, BirthGlide® aims to lower the need for assisted deliveries and emergency caesarean sections. If successful, the device could progress to larger trials and potentially offer a cost-effective solution for improving childbirth outcomes across the NHS and beyond.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Liverpool is leading a new clinical project to evaluate an innovative medical device designed to reduce trauma during childbirth, following £1.5 million in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The device, known as BirthGlide®, has now reached the clinical phase of development and will be used later this year at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

The project is led by Andrew Weeks, Professor of International Maternal Health at the University of Liverpool, and is supported through the NIHR Invention for Innovation Product Development Awards. The funding will enable the first-in-human feasibility study of BirthGlide®, a patent-protected device designed to reduce complications during the second stage of labour, commonly referred to as the pushing stage.

Currently, first-time mothers face around a 30% chance of experiencing complications during this phase of labour, often requiring assisted delivery using forceps or suction, or an emergency caesarean section. While these procedures can be lifesaving, they may also be traumatic for both mother and baby and carry risks such as bleeding, infection, tears, and pain. In some cases, complications can result in lifelong consequences, including serious injury to the baby or long-term maternal trauma. These interventions also place significant demands on healthcare systems, requiring specialist staff, operating theatre time, and extended hospital stays.

BirthGlide® has been developed to address these challenges by reducing resistance between the baby’s head and the birth canal, potentially allowing labour to progress more smoothly and reducing the need for invasive interventions. Designed to be simple to use, the device could be applicable to the majority of the estimated 134 million births that occur globally each year.

As part of the feasibility study, the research team plans to offer BirthGlide® to 22 women in labour at Liverpool Women’s Hospital next summer. The study will assess how acceptable the device is to women, how easily it can be correctly placed during labour, and whether it supports vaginal delivery. If the initial results are positive, the team hopes to move forward with a larger clinical trial to evaluate the device’s effectiveness at scale and its potential cost-effectiveness for routine use across the NHS.

The NIHR Invention for Innovation (i4i) Programme supports the translation of promising medical technologies, including medical devices and digital health solutions, that address existing and emerging health and social care needs, helping innovations like BirthGlide® move from concept to clinical practice.

Media Contacts:

Joanne Carr
Deputy Director of Communications and Public Affairs
T: +44 (0)7825 434900
E: jocarr@liverpool.ac.uk

Catrin Owen
Media Relations Manager – Humanities and Social Sciences
T: +44 (0)7721 834238
E: catrin.owen@liverpool.ac.uk

Sarah Stamper
Media Relations Manager – Science and Engineering
T: +44 (0)7970 247396
E: sarah.stamper@liverpool.ac.uk

Jennifer Morgan
Media Relations Manager – Health and Life Sciences
T: +44 (0)7775 547589
E: J.L.Morgan@liverpool.ac.uk

Alison Cornmell
Media Relations Manager – Health and Life Sciences
T: +44 (0) 7771 700680
E: Alison.Cornmell@liverpool.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Liverpool