TV star Anita opens new midwife-led birth centre (From Wharfedale Observer)

TV star Anita opens new midwife-led birth centre

9:00am Sunday 10th February 2013 in Local news

TV presenter Anita Rani has officially opened a new midwife-led birth centre.

The One Show reporter, who was born in Bradford, was given a tour of the new midwife-led birth centre which is part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s £3.6 million investment in maternity and neonatal facilities.

The Birth Centre, at Bradford Royal Infirmary, will cater for women with a low-risk pregnancy and birth, with all care provided by midwives.

Head of midwifery, Julie Walker, said: “Anita is a role model for women across the district and we are delighted that she has come back to the city of her birth to open our new birth centre.

“We are also delighted that she has taken the time to view our new facilities and join with us in celebrating this increased choice in where mums-to-be can deliver their baby.”

The Foundation Trust spent £1.2 million on the new Birth Centre and a full refurbishment of the adjacent consultant-led labour ward.

The seven-bedded birth unit boasts two birthing pools as well as a relaxing environment where women can give birth in specially designed ‘home-from-home’ rooms. iPod docking stations are attached to the walls of every room and birthing aids like birth stools, mats and balls encourage women to remain upright in birth so that labour can progress quickly.

Birth Centre manager, Carol Dyson, added: “We’ve received some great feedback from mums who have already given birth at our new centre. Women who laboured in our new birthing pools have said they found it a really effective form of pain relief so we are expecting demand for these two rooms in particular to increase.”

There is also a shared kitchen in the new birth centre where staff, patients and relatives can use the facilities, and a recently-installed lift now takes mums and their babies direct to the post-natal wards on the floors above.

Jacque Gerrard, Director for England at the Royal College of Midwives, said: “At a time of austerity, the Foundation Trust and the midwifery team should be applauded for demonstrating commitment and investment to maternity services where it was really needed.”