Proud parents Patricia and Moses celebrate ‘magical moment’ with midwifery team
Mum Patricia, centre and holding Louisa, with brother Leshem, left, and dad Moses, right(Image: Humber Health Partnership)
Special congratulations were in order for Hull parents Patricia and Moses after their new daughter became the 5,000th baby to be born at the Fatima Allam Birth Centre. Baby Louisa was born weighing 6lb 8oz at 8pm on Wednesday (July 29) evening, becoming a part of the history of the midwifery-led unit, which opened in 2017.
Anna Chester, matron, who leads the community midwifery team and the midwifery-led unit, said: “It’s a fabulous milestone to reach and we’re so pleased to have helped so many families to have the birth experience they wished for in such a fantastic environment.” Rebecca Julian, the birth centre practice lead, said: “Every member of the team here would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Patricia and Moses on the birth of their beautiful baby. They’re all now a very welcome part of our history.”
Louisa was born in water at the centre, which transformed maternity services for families in this area when it opened nine years ago. Midwife Danielle Shepherd, supported by student midwife Grace Robson and maternity support worker Kathleen Betts, helped Patricia with the safe delivery of her second child, a sister for big brother Leshem, nine.
Danielle said: “It was a magical moment supporting Patricia in bringing her baby girl into the world. The room was full of pure joy and happiness. I feel so honoured to do the job I love and be part of the fabulous birth centre team.”
Her colleague Terri Jarrold took over post-natal care, arranging for them to return to their home in Hull to begin life as a family of four. Terri said: “It was a lovely water birth.
“Everyone’s really well and they’re able to go home after all checks were fine. Patricia had her baby right at the point of shift handover so that made for an exciting time too.”
With its mood lighting, private suites, birthing pools and chic furnishings, the midwifery-led unit inside Hull Women and Children’s Hospital was compared favourably to a boutique hotel when it opened its doors to its first parents. Staff had worked with parents and designers to create a homely, welcoming and relaxing environment to give birth, with all necessary clinical equipment tucked away behind special panelling in the private en-suite rooms, Jasmine, Lotus and Persea.
Midwives and maternity assistants staff the unit round-the-clock, seven days a week and it’s now offered as an opt-out for all those deemed suitable for a natural birth by their midwife.
There is a birthing pool, birthing ball, birthing platform and birthing stool in every suite along with dimmed lighting and access to music to create a calm, home-from-home, soothing environment. The Fatima Allam Birth Centre is situated on the labour ward within the Hull Women’s and Children’s Hospital and is one of the three places that are offered to give birth in alongside the labour ward and at home.
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