Birthing Centre at Heatherwood Hospital Celebrated its First Birthday, on Saturday 24th October 2009

It was standing room only as mums, dads and babies came to the Ascot Birth Centre to celebrate their first year as a stand-alone midwifery led unit last year, offering prospective mothers who fall into the ‘low risk’ category a home- from-home environment that is calm, friendly and safe.

Parents were keen to talk to each other about their experiences and to make comments in the birthday book:

“What a positive experience, if we have another we will certainly come back and would absolutely recommend it to everyone”

“Born in the birth pool, wonderful experience, wonderful maternity unit, wonderful staff, wonderful aftercare”

“I was quite nervous about the birth of my first child, but when I came here the staff made me feel welcome and at ease”

“Many thanks to all the staff for all their help and encouragement. The aftercare was superb, lots of care and attention which made the whole experience amazing”

The Centre houses three birth rooms, two of which have en-suite facilities and one larger room that contains the birthing pool.

The Birth Centre offers free hypnobirthing to all women as well as preparation for birth classes, with partners’ involvement encouraged. Women are supported in their choice for birth, be that a home delivery or at the centre in the large air conditioned pool room with aromatherapy, atmospheric lighting and music. The two other large delivery rooms offer a choice of large bean bags, pezzi balls, beds and soft cushions for mothers to be.

The Birth Centre hosts a breastfeeding drop-in clinic for postnatal women in the community every Wednesday from 3pm to 6pm, and a Postnatal drop in clinic every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday from 10am to 1pm.