Exeter Birth Centre celebrates 5th Birthday
Midwives, mums and babies celebrated five years of the Exeter Birth Centre with a special celebration at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital last month.
The midwife-led unit, based in the RD&E’s Centre for Womens’ Health, supports women who have had a low risk pregnancy and who want a birth with minimal medical intervention.
Since it first opened its doors as a full time service on 18th November 2012, over 3,000 babies have been born at the Exeter Birth Centre, the very first arriving in the early hours of Monday 19th.
Five years later, midwives at the birth centre have cared for 4,177 women in labour and delivered 3,111 babies[1] to date - including seven new arrivals who were born on Christmas Day.
One of the most recent new arrivals included baby Archie, pictured with his parents Sarah Morley and Mike Windley and big sister Gracie, who was born at the Exeter Birth Centre earlier in the week.
To celebrate the centre’s fifth anniversary of providing high quality care for local women the birth centre team celebrated with a special birthday tea party on Thursday 23rd November at the RD&E’s Centre for Womens’ Health. Women who have given birth at the centre and their families joined staff for the celebration with tea and cake.
Exeter mum Aga Kowalska, who had her two children at the Exeter Birth Centre, came to the event to see some of the staff again who had helped her with her births. She said: “I have very fond memories of this place as I had to come here for my scans and appointments, so it’s been a special place in my life. The team here are amazing and I just can’t believe how composed, happy, professional and positive they always are. It’s amazing and they are a lovely team.”
Aga, also donated a series of her photographs to the Birth Centre and a photography session as a prize in the silent auction.
During the event, the midwives raised £750 to help spruce up the birth centre rooms and enhance the birth experience for all the families they will care for in the future, by holding a raffle and a silent auction.
Kay Cassidy, who has been Matron at the Birth Centre since it opened in 2012, said: “It has been an honour and a privilege, to care for women and their families on the birth centre for the past five years. I have learnt so much about women and their amazing ability to birth their babies, even when their births have not always gone as expected. We were delighted to welcome them all back to celebrate with us today.
“The birth centre team are passionate, committed and without their hard work and dedication, the service would not be what it is. I would like to thank each and every midwife, who has contributed to the care of women over the past five years, whether that has been a birth centre midwife or one that has come to support us on busier days. Thanks too to all the support staff, your help has been and is greatly appreciated. I look forward to the next five years of continued success.”
Archie’s mum Sarah is also organising a Christmas Family Fun Day at on Sunday 3rd December at Teignmouth Rugby Club to raise funds for the RD&E’s Neonatal Unit and Heart in the Hand. To find out more please visit the Ollie’s Rainbow Facebook page www.facebook.com/fundraisingeventsandauctions
