Rotherham Hospital’s pioneering labour-saving device for expectant mums

Pregnant women sometimes need their labour to start artificially because of health concerns or becoming overdue — but can now consider a balloon induction.

This involves a small tube with a balloon on the end being passed through the neck of the womb and inflated with water.

The pressure on the neck of the womb caused by the balloon opens it up to help labour begin.

Sue Rutter, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Rotherham Hospital, said it was “early days” but the results so far were showing the procedure is providing more benefits for women compared to previous methods.

Ms Rutter said the method was a more convenient alternative to the pessary procedure which involves the use of medication and usually results in women having to stay in hospital.

Around 40 per cent of women have been able to go home and do their normal activities with the balloon in place, she said, adding that feedback received from new mums had been positive.

Mum Emma Plater said she had found the balloon induction to be “extremely effective”.

She added: I was dreading being induced as you hear lots of stories from other women saying it can take days, but I didn’t experience this at all.

“But there wasn’t much pain when the balloon was put in and I was able to go home and carry on as normal until my waters broke.

“From having the balloon out, to my little boy being born, it was a matter of a few hours.”