Published on: 26 November 2020
The Midwifery-Led Birthing Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital is celebrating a milestone with the birth of its 300th baby since opening in August last year.
Baby Cleo was born at 9.38pm on November 24, 2020 weighing 6 pounds and 10 ounces, and she is the first child for her parents, who both live locally in South Shields
Delivered by experienced midwives Grainne Brookes and June Greener, Cleo is an early Christmas present for mum and dad arriving 18 days earlier than expected.
Cleo’s mum was out walking the dog when she unexpectedly went into labour. She said: “I definitely wasn’t expecting Cleo to be the 300th baby. I had a great experience and I was just so comfortable with everything. The centre is really relaxing and not clinical at all. I would definitely recommend it to others.”
Jacqui Ramshaw, midwife and manager of the centre said “We’d like to say a huge congratulations to our newest parents on the birth of their daughter Cleo. Delivering our 300th baby is another milestone for the midwifery-led birthing centre, and a fantastic achievement since we opened on August 5, 2019.”
So far midwives at the birthing centre have helped to deliver 159 bouncing baby boys and 141 beautiful baby girls. Water births are proving to be particularly popular, with the number currently running at 155.
Throughout her pregnancy, the new mum was supported by the birthing centre’s new Continuity of Care Team, which aims to offer a more personalised maternity experience for women.
The team is made up of two community midwives and four birthing centre midwives. They work with ‘low-risk’ expectant mums throughout the duration of their pregnancy, birth and post-natal care.
Jacqui commented: “Evidence has shown that when women know the midwife who is caring for them throughout their pregnancy journey, it significantly improves outcomes mothers and babies – resulting in a better birth experience.
“If you want to know more about our Continuity of Care Team and how they can support you, please contact the birthing centre.”
Sheila Ford, Head of Midwifery at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am proud of our midwives across the whole of our maternity service. Working together they have created a fabulous service for pregnant women in South Tyneside and Sunderland which provides local women with the very highest standards of care and more choice over where to have their baby. This teamwork has been central to the success of our Midwifery-led Birthing Centre and we are delighted to celebrate our 300th birth.
“I also want to say a big thank you to our midwifery team for their commitment throughout COVID-19. Babies don’t stop being born during a pandemic and a huge amount of work and professionalism has gone into ensuring that mums and babies continue to receive a safe and positive birthing experience, despite these unprecedented challenges.”
To arrange a visit to the Midwifery-Led Birthing Centre at South Tyneside District Hospital – call 0191 404 1033.
