Mums give backing to Downpatrick baby unit

Mums give backing to Downpatrick baby unit

30 March 2016

WOULD-BE mums across the district are being urged to use Downpatrick’s midwife-led maternity unit in greater numbers.

The appeal by mums who have recently had their babies at the unit comes three weeks after a public meeting as part of a review into local maternity services heard there is overwhelming support for the midwife-led facility.

Mums, midwives and health campaigners are united in their support for the unit based at the Downe Hospital which was the the first of its kind in Ireland when it opened six years ago. The current review will evaluate the midwife-led service and produce an “over-arching report” towards the end of May. 

The unit has the potential to deliver up to 350 births a year and local mums Marcella Ireland from Newcastle, Carryduff’s Jolene Millens and Tyrella’s Martha Lowry are encouraging more expectant women to use what they have described as a “fantastic facility.” The mums are also keen for more GPs to refer mums-to-be to the unit.

The trio met last week to voice support for the unit and its staff and said they could not speak highly enough of the service available for local women. In particular, the mums highlighted the unit’s “home from home” atmosphere and the continuity of care at a facility which also delivers ante and post-natal care. They are also keen for the “myth” that first time mums cannot have their babies in Downpatrick to be dispelled.

Jolene Millens — who has had her three babies at the Downpatrick unit — was so impressed with the facility she joined the facility’s maternity services liaison committee which will shortly be relaunched as Mum Matters.

Jolene had her first baby in Downpatrick by chance after a problem arose with her booking at the Ulster Hospital. A community midwife who was at her GP surgery suggested the Downe’s baby unit and once Jolene visited the facility she “loved the place.”

“Once I saw the unit and met the staff during my ante-natal appointments I decided to have my first baby in Downpatrick,” she said. “I had no hesitation coming back here a second and third time and don’t think I would have liked to have gone anywhere else.

“The staff here are so friendly. I felt safe and secure here from the moment I walked through the door. This place feels so much like home and there is a terrific atmosphere. The continuity of care is excellent and the service is much more personal. I do not think you would have that experience in a larger maternity unit.”

The Carryduff woman said a lot of women in her area are unaware they can choose to have their babies in Downpatrick and hopes more will consider this option. She said women believe they have to go to their nearest hospital to deliver which is not the case.

“During my pregnancies, one locum GP told me I could not have my first baby in Downpatrick while another told made this unit did not exist. GPs need to be provided with more information about this facility and encourage more women to use it,” said Jolene. “There is also a self-referral system for women and I hope this will encourage more of them to use the midwife facility.”

Jolene added: “I can’t speak highly enough of this unit and am quite passionate about trying to promote it. I think people do not realise what a different experience they can have here. The so-called cattle market approach to giving birth is not the way it has to be. You come somewhere like here where you have two midwives to yourself the whole way through labour and get so much care and attention.

“You would not get that anywhere else. I had a back massage during labour and it is small touches like this which make a big difference. The delivery suite is so homely and does not look at all clinical, it’s more like a bedroom or hotel room. The fact my husband could stay the night with me here was so important. The individual attention, relaxed environment and continuity of care is second to none. I cannot speak highly enough of this facility.”