New midwifery-led unit has delivered its first baby

The new midwifery-led unit at Hexham General Hospital has had its first babies delivered by student midwife Phillipa Talbot, who also delivered the last baby to be born in the old maternity unit.

Midwifery-led units (MLU) provides an environment for women with low-risk pregnancies to have a midwife as the lead healthcare professional throughout their pregnancy.

The midwives take responsibility for the organisation and delivery of care. This covers everything from the initial antenatal visits all the way to the care during the postnatal period.

Having a midwife lead on the care increases the chances of women delivering alongside the same midwife they have been with throughout their pregnancy and lowers the likelihood of needing intervention during their birth.

The new unit has a large birthing suite which includes a birthing pool with LED overhead lighting and the ability to connect Bluetooth devices to play your choice of music. The suite has a large open space with kitchen facilities which encourages birthing partners to stay.

Phillipa Talbot was the student midwife who delivered both the last baby in the old unit and the first baby of the new unit.

She said: “It feels rewarding to have been involved in both of the births. It’s like one door has closed and the other has opened to the future of Hexham hospital and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.”

Now in her final year of study, she has worked alongside the midwives at Hexham for the duration of her 3-year course.

Phillipa said: “I always wanted to become a midwife but I was afraid my dyslexia would hold me back.

“However, I was so inspired by the care I received during my own pregnancies that I decided to make the career change.”

One of her main areas of expertise is providing care to women with low-risk pregnancies during their labour and birth.

Amy Makepeace, who was one of first women to give birth in the new unit, couldn’t praise it enough.

She said: “All of the staff were absolutely brilliant. I really felt like I got to know them during my pregnancy which was lovely. Even after I had been discharged, they were there for support.

“The maternity unit doesn’t have a clinical feel to it which made it a much better experience than my previous pregnancies. I hope a lot more women get to give birth here.”