17 June 2014

Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit celebrates its first anniversary at St Michael’s Hospital

The midwifery-led birthing unit at St Michael's Hospital Bristol has celebrated its first anniversary after a successful year.

Lynda Bellingham officially opened the unit to patients last year, June 17. Since opening, midwives have helped deliver over 800 babies accounting for 20 per cent of the total number of births at St Michael's in the last year. The Unit offers mums-to-be a safe alternative to giving birth in a traditional hospital setting or at home. The birthing unit is suitable for women with uncomplicated pregnancies who wish to give birth in a home from home, non-medical environment.

Sarah Windfeld, head of midwifery at University Hospitals Bristol said: "The Midwifery-led unit at St. Michaels has been open a year now and I am delighted that the service has been able to provide improved choice for healthy women with low risk pregnancies and support normal birth. The Midwifery-led unit is a great environment and the feedback from women and their families has been extremely positive."

Today the unit welcomed two more babies to proud parents. Chelsea Knill gave birth to Nevaeh Jones at 5.49am, reaching the hospital 29 minutes before giving birth. Chelsea and her partner Mike Jones said: "The midwifery-led unit is brilliant, the staff feel like friends and the advice and information we have been given is very helpful. We felt very comfortable and at ease."

Amy Walden also gave birth to a baby girl who is yet to be named. She said: "Me and my partner Stephen were given a tour of the unit where we decided we wanted our baby here. When we arrived we had a choice of the pink or blue room and it was lucky we picked pink as we had a baby girl. The ambiance of the unit is very calm and relaxing, the care given was amazing and it felt like home from home."

 

 

 

 

 

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