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PRESS RELEASE: 28 April 2005

Natural birthing unit proves a success

Staff, women and their families at the Rosie Hospital at Addenbrooke's are celebrating the recent opening of a new midwifery-led birth unit, which offers women a home-from-home birthing experience within the safety of the hospital.

Women are able to make choices about their care and are encouraged to have a normal birth without intervention, with the use of birthing balls, birthing stools, massage and a birthing pool to help them in their labour. If they do need medical assistance, they can quickly be transferred to the delivery unit in the Rosie Hospital.

This new unit is part of an ongoing modernisation process at the Rosie Hospital to improve and develop local maternity services. The unit is managed by experienced midwives with the help of maternity care assistants, caring for women who have had no significant problems in their pregnancy or medical issues.

Consultant Midwife Susan Burvill in the new unit

Speaking about the new unit, Consultant Midwife Susan Burvill said: "This modern new unit provides women greater choice in where they want to give birth. Women who have used the facilities have given really positive feedback, remarking on how calm, relaxing, homely and friendly the new unit is and how the non-clinical environment has helped them to enjoy the arrival of their new baby."

The new unit has already seen 40 births in its first three weeks, many of which have been to first-time mothers.

For further press/media information contact: PR & Communications Department, Box 53, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ; Tel: 01223 274 433; Fax: 01223 257 143; Minicom: 01223 274 604.