Successful maternity unveiled

Successful maternity unveiled

9 May 2012 - by David Telford

THE Downpatrick maternity unit is throwing open its doors to the public next week to give people an insight into the range of services it provides.

The midwife-led unit — which opened for business in March two years ago — has to date delivered 151 babies.

The May 17 open night is specifically geared towards people thinking of having a baby and those who have just discovered they are pregnant. Midwives at the unit housed within the Downe Hospital also want partners and family relatives to come along as well.

Last month 16 babies were born at the Downpatrick unit which is the highest recorded number in any month since the facility opened, providing staff with a major boost.

Ahead of next week’s open night, senior midwife Teresa McDowell explained the local unit can provide one-to-one care and said staff are encouraged by the fact that more GPs across South Down are now referring women to the Downpatrick facility.

“The open night is about showing what we are all about. Strange as it may seem, there are still people who are unaware of what we do at this unit and that our service operates 24-hours a day,” she continued.

“We cater for mums deemed to be in the low risk category, but also provide ante-natal services for women classed as high risk who will have their babies in one of the Belfast area hospitals where consultant cover is available. After giving birth these women can have their postnatal care delivered locally.”

Teresa said staff encourage expectant mums deemed to be low risk to have their babies in Downpatrick and explained first time mums are not excluded from the local unit.

She continued: “Pregnancy for the majority of women is normal and natural. It is not an illness. Research shows there are better birth outcomes for babies born in midwife-led units and there is a more homely atmosphere here.

“In Downpatrick we provide one-to-one care and have more time for women. Mothers who have had their babies with us will be attending next Thursday’s open night to speak about their experiences of the unit.”

Teresa said the local midwives are “rather unique” as they not only deliver babies, but provide mums with their ante and postnatal care in the community with teams of midwives working in the Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Newcastle areas.

Teresa added: “Safety is of paramount importance to us and we are not in the business of putting mothers or babies lives at risk. A midwife-led service is recognised as being safe for the women it’s designed to accommodate.”

Midwife Aine Maginn said increasing numbers of women have confidence in the Downpatrick unit, but explained there are those who don’t realise other aspects of maternity care like ante and postnatal care can be provided locally, even for mums who have chosen to have their babies at other units.

Midwife Paula McConn said women value the service provided in Downpatrick which for many is really close to home, adding: “Our numbers have been pretty constant since we opened, in particular, those using the ante-natal service.”

Midwives will be manning stalls in two local supermarkets this weekend. advertising next week’s open night which runs from 6pm to 9pm. Staff will be at the Tesco store on Newcastle this Saturday from 10am until 6pm and at Asda in Downpatrick on Sunday from 2pm to 6pm.

Also during next week’s open night a number of stalls will be manned by staff from a range of professional and voluntary agencies who work closely with local midwives.