‘Recycled’ blood to be used in labour?

The pioneering procedure would see blood lost during labour collected, cleaned, and reinfused into the mother.

Experts say the recycling process would mean new mothers avoided transfusions and conserve blood supplies.

[Related: Fashion blogger gives birth on YouTube]

The technology is already used in operating theatres but has not been used during labour.

Experts at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) have been given £50,000 to carry out research into the procedure.

Consultant anaesthetist Catherine Ralph hopes to launch the 12-month project in December and say the results are eagerly awaited by medics across the globe.

She said: ''Our work here is innovative and I am confident in what we are doing.

''It has never been done before and the world is watching.

''I have already heard from teams in Australia, Japan, the USA, and Europe, all keen to hear what we are doing and eager to see what our study shows.''

The research was commissioned after figures showed a small number of new mums received 30 per cent of blood used during a year at the hospital in Treliske, Cornwall.

Every year about six women suffer a major haemorrhage during labour at the hospital while many more need treatment for blood loss.

It is these women who will hopefully benefit from the new research funded by The National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia (NIAA).

Dr Ralph added: ''Traditionally, labour blood is perceived as contaminated and there are no case reports to lead us.

''My aim is to be able to say we can collect it and this is how. I want to be able to show the blood isn’t contaminated and is suitable for re-infusion.

''If we could offer some of these women their own recycled blood back then we could reduce the need for donor blood transfusion.''

The trust has been using cell salvage for women having caesarean sections for the past three years.

Susan Bracefield, from Newquay, Cornwall, had cell salvage following her planned Caesarean.

She said: ''I had been anaemic for a lot of the pregnancy and felt grotty.

''When I came in I was given a leaflet about cell salvage and the staff explained what it was about.

''I thought it was brilliant and felt it must be better having your own blood back.''