York St John the first uni in UK to use maternity simulator that gives birth

York St John University has become the first in the UK to use a birthing simulator that actually gives birth.

The simulator, named 'Mama Anne', births a mannequin baby and mirrors multiple real life birthing situations.

It mimics the sights, sounds (including conversation and crying out if touched without consent) and physical scenarios of giving birth.

Midwifery students will be able to practice:

• Emergency situations, like postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, sepsis and shoulder dystocia
• Observations
• Looking at 'blood' and other fluids
• Patient dialogue as Mama Anne can talk
• Birth positions as Mama Anne is fully poseable
• Consent as Mama Anne will cry if touched without consent
• And tactile elements as she has a cuttable cord and realistic resistant injection sites

Two of the simulators have been used in the University's Paramedic Science training and will be included in the Midwifery (BSc) programme from September 2026.

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