Pregnancy
A labour of love: making pregnancy and childbirth safer with 80% more accurate foetal oxygen monitoring
By Annie Theriault, managing partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures (CBIV)
For expecting mothers, the process of bringing life into the world has remained the same since the beginnings of mankind, but what has changed is the outcome.
Thanks to modern medicine, over the last century maternal deaths associated with childbirth have decreased by nearly 99 per cent in developed countries. And better outcomes for mothers lead to better outcomes for newborns, as well as the entire family.
Advancements in medical technology, coupled with access to high-quality prenatal care, have been game changers for maternal and newborn health. Ultrasounds, electronic foetal monitoring, and pulse oximetry have become table stakes in the delivery room, helping to detect and manage high-risk pregnancies and reducing complications in the delivery room.
Despite this progress, women in the US are still three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than women in other developed countries, a statistic that is significantly worse for women of colour [1]. These are sobering facts for the world’s highest-income nation, as the World Health Organization considers prenatal care and infant mortality rates to be important measures of healthcare quality.
One factor contributing to this troubling statistic is the alarming exponential increase in unnecessary procedures such as the Caesarean section (C-section) to deliver babies.
When utilised appropriately, C-sections have saved millions of lives for mothers and babies, but also carry significant risks associated with major abdominal surgery that result in short- and long-term consequences for both mother and baby.
The increasing C-section rates are tied to increasing maternal morbidity and mortality, and is an issue that has recently received attention from Dr Jill Biden and the White House [2]. It is reported that over half of all C-sections are medically unnecessary – yet they have become so prevalent that one in three American women will deliver their baby through this surgical procedure [3].
Detecting foetal distress: heads or tails?
One company aiming to remedy this is Raydiant Oximetry out of San Ramon, California and Cork, Ireland. Founded in 2016 by Dr Neil Ray, a paediatric anaesthesiologist, Raydiant Oximetry is using the principles of pulse oximetry to more accurately detect foetal distress during labour and delivery to reduce the overuse of emergency C-sections and improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
Pulse oximetry technology is used to diagnose low oxygen levels in virtually every clinical setting, but no such technology has existed for foetuses in the labor ward. Raydiant Oximetry is on the path to commercialising Lumerah™, a low-cost and non-invasive photonics sensor that monitors foetal oxygenation during labour.
Every year in the US, approximately 3.4 million women (85 per cent of all births) are placed on foetal heart rate monitors during pregnancy [4]. However, current foetal monitoring technology has the accuracy of a coin toss in accurately predicting foetal distress [5].
The false positive rate for foetal heart rate monitors has been reported to be as high as 89 per cent and as a result, clinicians struggle to determine when an emergency intervention is truly indicated [6]. Emergency C-sections are consequently performed for medical-legal liability fears which drive up hospitalisation costs and leave mothers with increasing rates of postpartum depression and PTSD [7].
Lumerah promises to change all of this by detecting foetal distress more accurately with a non-invasive, transabdominal approach that directly measures foetal arterial blood oxygen levels. This will give clinicians more accurate data and insights, enabling them to make better-informed labor and delivery decisions.
In a recent clinical study completed at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas, Lumerah demonstrated a false positive rate of 19 per cent for detecting foetal distress [8].
The path to commercialisation
Although not yet commercially available, Lumerah is getting the attention it deserves because of its life-improving potential. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Lumerah the status of Breakthrough Device to expedite its market approval.
Most recently, Raydiant Oximetry was named by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as one of six finalists in the RADx Tech Challenge, a competition to identify companies that are enhancing foetal health diagnostics. The company received US$75,000 to fund ongoing technology development, and is now in the running for a larger prize that will be announced in October.
Furthermore, Raydiant Oximetry recently received IDE approval from the FDA in April to initiate a clinical study of Lumerah at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) in Norfolk, Virginia. The study began in May and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 [9].
Raydiant Oximetry’s innovation in the obstetrical space is just getting started with Lumerah. The company has developed the Daisy TM device as well. Daisy was developed to prevent postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) for a woman undergoing a C-section delivery, which complements other PPH devices on the market that treat PPH in women that had a vaginal delivery.
PPH is the leading cause of maternal mortality around the globe and takes the life of an expecting mother every four minutes [10]. A clinical study of Daisy was also initiated at EVMS this past May and expected to be completed by the end of 2024 [11].
Importantly, not only is the company aiming to transform maternal care in the US, but it is already working with global health funders and experts to ensure that these technologies also become accessible in low- and middle-income countries where, according to the WHO, nearly 95 per cent of all maternal deaths occurred in 2020 [12].
Keeping mothers and babies safe during labour and delivery
Raydiant Oximetry is creating a new benchmark in obstetrics care that will benefit countless mothers and babies around the world. The history of childbirth shows us how far we have come, but also how far we still need to go – especially in addressing inequalities.
Continued investment in transformative healthcare companies with a global lens can propel further progress in maternal and newborn health. Access to better health technology that transcends borders will benefit women, children, and the world at large.
Annie Theriault is a managing partner at Cross-Border Impact Ventures (CBIV), an impact venture capital firm investing in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health technology companies addressing large international markets. Raydiant Oximetry is a CBIV portfolio company.
REFERENCES:
1 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2021/maternal-mortality-rates-2021.pdf
3 PMID 24565430
4 PMID 19546798
5 PMID 23009972
6PMID 14749646
7 PMID 35457767
8 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05147584
9 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06405984
10 PMID 17012482
11 https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06219538
12 Maternal mortality (who.int)
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has referred to the women’s health strategy as a ‘missed opportunity’ to address maternity services.
The renewed strategy was released by the government this week, with the aim of putting women’s experiences at the centre of care and ensuring they are “better heard and served”.
However, the government stated that because of ongoing investigations into maternity services across the country, the strategy “does not seek to address safety in maternity and neonatal services”.
The RCM described this as a “missed opportunity” and urged the government to ensure that, following the inquiries, maternity is placed “at the very heart” of the strategy.
Gill Walton, RCM chief executive, said the college was “deeply disappointed” that maternity services “do not feature as a headline priority” in the renewed strategy.
She said: “This is a significant missed opportunity and one that is very difficult to understand.
“Pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period are not a footnote in women’s health – they are one of the most significant and consequential phases of a woman’s life.
“A strategy that treats maternity as an afterthought is not truly a women’s health strategy at all. It is exactly the kind of thinking that has allowed maternity services to reach the point they are at today.”
Walton acknowledged that the strategy contained commitments on ensuring women’s voices shape their care, on supporting families through pregnancy loss and on the principle that services should be held accountable when they fail to listen to women.
She added: “But a strategy that addresses one part of women’s health while leaving maternity care behind is only doing half the job.”
Walton urged the government to ensure that this is addressed when the ongoing investigations into maternity care conclude, with any recommendations placed “at the very heart of this strategy with the seriousness and urgency that women, families and midwives deserve”.
In the foreword to the renewed plans, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting referred to the ongoing independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation as action being taken by the government to improve safety in maternity services.
The strategy also refers to the new National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by Streeting, which aims to help deliver “safer, more equitable care” for women, babies and families.
The foreword said that, because of ongoing initiatives, it was “important that this work continues without restriction and that the government can properly respond to the findings”.
It added: “This renewed women’s health strategy therefore does not seek to address safety in maternity and neonatal services other than that related to women’s health before and during pregnancy and the actions we are taking immediately to improve maternity and neonatal care.”
The strategy does, however, include plans to prioritise health education in schools, communities and healthcare settings to “empower women” with the “knowledge and tools they need to help control their fertility” and “prepare for the best pregnancy outcomes.
It also promises to provide women with access to “safe and high-quality contraception, abortion care, fertility services, preconception care and support after pregnancy loss in convenient settings.
Article produced in association with London Pregnancy Clinic and Jeen Health
For the majority of couples planning a pregnancy, genetic testing is not something they think about until a problem arises.
Pre-conception genetic carrier screening challenges this approach by identifying risk before pregnancy begins.
As panel sizes have grown and at-home testing options have become widely available, carrier screening is transitioning from a niche clinical referral into a mainstream component of reproductive planning.
What Carrier Screening Tests For
Being a carrier of a genetic condition means carrying one copy of a variant in a gene associated with that condition, without being affected by it.
In most cases, carriers are entirely unaware of their status.
The clinical significance of carrier status emerges when both members of a couple carry a variant in the same gene: in this scenario, each pregnancy carries a one in four chance of resulting in a child who inherits two copies of the variant and is affected by the condition.
The conditions most frequently included in expanded carrier screening panels include cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), fragile X syndrome, sickle cell disease, and a range of metabolic and enzyme deficiency disorders.
The Beacon 787 carrier test, offered by Jeen Health, screens for 787 conditions from a single sample, making it one of the most comprehensive panels currently available to UK families.
Who Is Most Likely to Benefit
Any couple planning a pregnancy can consider carrier screening. It is particularly relevant for:
- Couples with a family history of a known inherited condition
- Those from populations with higher carrier frequencies for specific conditions, including Ashkenazi Jewish, South Asian and African communities
- Couples pursuing fertility treatment, where genetic information informs treatment planning
- Those who wish to have the most complete picture of their reproductive health before conception
Importantly, being a carrier of a condition does not mean a child will be affected. It means there is a defined statistical risk that can be quantified, discussed and planned for with appropriate clinical support.
How the Test Is Performed
Carrier screening is typically carried out on a blood or saliva sample.
For at-home options such as the testing offered by Jeen Health, a cheek swab collection kit is dispatched to the patient, the sample is returned by post, and results are delivered digitally within a defined turnaround period.
In-clinic carrier testing may use a blood draw and provides the advantage of immediate access to a clinical consultation at the point of result delivery.
London Pregnancy Clinic offers genetics counselling through its partnership with Jeen Health, allowing couples to receive and contextualise carrier test results with expert support.
Genetic counselling before and after testing is recommended by Genomics England as a standard component of any genomic testing pathway.
What Happens If Both Partners Are Carriers
If both partners are identified as carriers for the same autosomal recessive condition, they are typically offered further counselling to discuss their options.
These may include proceeding naturally with an awareness of the risk, using prenatal diagnosis (CVS or amniocentesis) during pregnancy to test the fetus, or pursuing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in the context of IVF, which allows unaffected embryos to be selected before transfer.
The purpose of identifying carrier status before pregnancy is to give couples time to consider these options without the added pressure of an ongoing pregnancy.
Knowledge of carrier status does not remove reproductive choices; it expands the information available when making them.
The Role of Pre-Conception Services
Carrier screening sits within a broader category of pre-conception care that includes fertility assessments, general health optimisation and, where relevant, management of existing conditions before pregnancy begins.
London Pregnancy Clinic offers pre-conception services encompassing fertility investigations, genetics counselling and carrier testing as part of an integrated 0th trimester approach, allowing couples to address genetic and clinical risk factors before their pregnancy starts rather than after.
Disclaimer: This article is produced for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Clinical guidance referenced reflects published NHS, NICE and RCOG standards as at March 2026. Individual circumstances vary; readers are advised to consult a qualified healthcare professional before acting on any information in this article.
This piece was produced in association with London Pregnancy Clinic and Jeen Health, which provided background clinical information for editorial purposes.
Hyperlinks to external sources are included for reference only and do not represent an endorsement of any product, service or organisation.
Article produced in association with London Pregnancy Clinic and Jeen Health
For many years, formal clinical involvement in a pregnancy began at the point of confirmation, typically around eight to ten weeks.
The concept of the ‘0th trimester’ represents a shift in thinking: that the period before conception is itself a clinically significant window, during which health optimisation, risk identification and informed planning can meaningfully improve pregnancy outcomes.
Guidance from Tommy’s and the NHS both recommend pre-conception care as part of responsible reproductive health management.
What Pre-Conception Care Involves
Pre-conception care is not a single test or appointment. It is a structured approach to assessing and optimising a woman’s health before she attempts to conceive.
The NHS guidance on planning a pregnancy recommends a range of measures including taking folic acid, reviewing medications for safety in pregnancy, ensuring immunity to rubella and chickenpox, and addressing pre-existing conditions such as thyroid disorders, diabetes or high blood pressure before conception occurs.
General pre-conception assessments typically include blood pressure and BMI review, full blood count and iron levels, thyroid function, immunity screening (rubella, varicella), vitamin D status and cervical screening if overdue.
For women with existing conditions, specialist review before pregnancy is often more valuable than specialist referral during it.
Fertility Investigations as Part of the 0th Trimester
For women who are planning a pregnancy but have concerns about fertility, pre-conception investigations provide information that informs planning rather than leaving uncertainty unaddressed.
Clinics offering 0th trimester services, including London Pregnancy Clinic, provide investigations including hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy) to assess tubal patency, follicle tracking scans, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) testing to estimate ovarian reserve, and endometrial assessment.
These tests do not guarantee conception but they provide a clinical foundation from which fertility decisions can be made with better information.
Genetic Assessment in Pre-Conception Care
The genetic dimension of pre-conception care is increasingly central to a thorough 0th trimester assessment.
Genetic carrier screening before pregnancy allows couples to identify their carrier status for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, SMA and a range of other inherited disorders before conception, giving them time to consider their options with appropriate clinical support.
At-home carrier testing offered by Jeen Health provides access to comprehensive carrier screening without the need for a clinical referral.
Couples collect their sample at home and receive results within a defined timeframe.
When both partners carry a variant in the same gene, the result can be followed up with genetic counselling via clinics such as London Pregnancy Clinic, where clinical specialists can contextualise the findings and explain the available options.
Lifestyle and Nutritional Factors
Pre-conception health is not limited to clinical testing.
Lifestyle factors including physical activity levels, nutritional status, alcohol consumption and smoking all influence fertility and early fetal development.
Pre-conception care provides an opportunity to address these factors proactively rather than as an afterthought following a positive test.
Folic acid supplementation, recommended at 400 micrograms per day in the pre-conception period and the first trimester, is one of the most evidence-supported interventions available.
Why Timing Matters
Many of the interventions that benefit pregnancy are most effective when started before conception rather than after.
Addressing thyroid dysfunction, normalising blood pressure, treating iron deficiency anaemia, and identifying genetic risks all have a higher potential impact when managed from the outset rather than detected at the first antenatal appointment.
The 0th trimester framework provides a way of thinking about pre-conception care as a structured medical period with its own clinical agenda, rather than simply a waiting room for the first trimester.
What a Pre-Conception Appointment Might Look Like
A comprehensive pre-conception assessment with a specialist provider would typically cover a clinical consultation reviewing medical and family history, a pelvic ultrasound scan, blood tests for general health markers and fertility hormones, cervical health review if indicated, and a discussion of genetic risk including a recommendation for carrier screening if appropriate.
For couples with specific concerns about fertility or genetic history, specialist investigations can be added to this baseline assessment.
Disclaimer: This article is produced for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Clinical guidance referenced reflects published NHS, NICE and RCOG standards as at March 2026. Individual circumstances vary; readers are advised to consult a qualified healthcare professional before acting on any information in this article.
This piece was produced in association with London Pregnancy Clinic and Jeen Health, which provided background clinical information for editorial purposes.
Hyperlinks to external sources are included for reference only and do not represent an endorsement of any product, service or organisation.
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