Welcome Dylan! First arrival for Daisy Hill midwifery unit

by
Micheal McKenna
November 25, 2014

Mums-to-be in the Newry and Mourne area now have the option to deliver their babies in a new Midwifery Led Unit at Daisy Hill Hospital.

The new unit is part of the hospital’s maternity ward. It has two ensuite rooms, a birthing pool and a bath for labouring in, allowing women to experience midwifery led care in a home from home environment.

Anne McVey, Assistant Director of Integrated Maternity and Women’s Health, for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The philosophy of midwifery-led care is that childbirth is a natural event, where midwives work one-to-one with women, helping them to give birth safely without medical intervention where possible.”

Sister Bernice Boyle, Delivery Suite Manager and Sister Paula Boyle, Maternity Ward Manager with Aidan and Joanna Hollywood and their baby boy Dylan.

The Strategy for Maternity Care in Northern Ireland recommends that any hospital with a Consultant Led Maternity Unit should also have a Midwifery Led Unit on the same site.

Joanna Hollywood was the very first woman to deliver a baby in the new unit.

Her first baby, a boy named Dylan was born earlier this month weighing 7lbs.

Joanna says: “Thankfully the birth was very straight forward and Dylan was safely delivered in just two hours. The Midwifery Led Unit was nice and relaxed and I was delighted to have such a natural birth.”

Anne continues: “Whilst we have always offered midwifery led care in the Delivery Suite, we are delighted to now have a modern dedicated Midwifery Led Unit. A Consultant Obstetrician led team will continue to look after higher risk women and now we can offer lower risk women the choice to give birth in our new dedicated midwifery led environment where natural labour is promoted.

“Whatever your needs, our midwifery and obstetric teams will support and advise you to ensure the safest care for you and your baby.”

Expectant mothers will be able to find out more about the Midwifery Led Unit at their first antenatal booking visit and can discuss with their midwife whether they may be suitable to give birth there.