WORCESTER mums-to-be now have more choice over where they give birth with the opening of the new Meadow Birth Centre. Observer reporter Rob George was invited to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital to take a look around.
AFTER a long wait, midwives at Worcestershire Royal Hospital (WRH) have finally been able to deliver a long-awaited new arrival, the Meadow Birth Centre.
The idea was conceived in February 2014 when Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust received £497,000 from the Department of Health to create a midwife-led birth centre.
Work began to create the sanctuary for mums and dads to be in September and the much-anticipated venue opened its doors to expectant parents on Monday (March 30).
The four birth rooms Poppy, Violet, Cornflower and Daisy each feature an en-suite bathrooms and allow mums to be a comfortable and relaxing environment.
Poppy, Violet and Cornflower rooms all feature a large birth pool to allow mums to be the option of water birth while a birthing pool could be set up in Daisy if needed.
Mums to be who have been cared for solely by midwife during their pregnancy with no complications or medical problems are being invited to consider delivering at the centre.
And walking around the venue, the pursuit to create a ‘homely’ environment for mums and dads to be has been met with spacious but private rooms equipped with everything needed for a new arrival.
As well as the large birthing pools, the main Poppy room features a double bed while Violet and Cornflower boast Bradbury birth couches.
An experienced team of 14 midwives together with seven maternity support workers will staff the centre.
Alongside matron Rachel Carter and deputy team leader Davidica Morris will be team leader Louise Turbutt, a former community midwife.
“What I wanted to do is bring the home environment into hospital,” she said.
“We want mums to have a nice normal first delivery, to feel secure and safe and this environment helps that.
“It has a lovely quiet feeling which is key to helping mums relax. We have Bluetooth speakers so mums can have their own music on and make it their own environment.
“They can go down to the kitchen to make a drink for example.
“They have their own areas and can stay there for a fair few hours before going home and I think this appeals to mums.
“We are really keen to bring the family in as well so if mum wants more birth partners she can do,” she added.
As well as helping with labour, the Bradbury birth couches will double up as beds to ensure dads can stay with their partner during the labour and after the birth.
Gas and air and aromatherapy will be offered and suitable mums to be will be assessed at 36 weeks.
Midwives will also visit the delivery suite at WRH to assess mums to be and potentially offer delivery in the centre.
“This is open to the women of Worcestershire, I am really keen for mums to be to come and see what is on offer,” Louise added.
Patti Paine, Divisional Director of Nursing and Midwifery, said: “The Meadow Birth Centre is very important for the trust.
“But it’s even more important that the women of Worcestershire have a choice over where they give birth to their babies.
“Up until now they have had to give birth on the delivery suites of our consultant led units here or at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch or at home.
Fund-raising is also taking place for extra furnishings and equipment to ensure the Meadow Birth Centre remains a home from home for parents to be.
Visit www.justgiving.com/MeadowBirthCentre or call 01905 760551 for more information.
