Mums and babies have gathered at Maidstone Birth Centre with guests including Baroness Cumberlege, to mark half a decade for the service. The Centre opened on 22 September 2011 and has now delivered more than 2,000 babies.

The Centre has published its Five Year Report (2011-2016) detailing clinical and birth outcomes for mothers as well as highlighting key achievements.

Baroness Cumberlege, the Independent Chair of the 2016 ‘National Maternity Review’ visited the Centre as part of a recent tour of maternity services at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Facilities include two birth rooms, four postnatal rooms, a kitchen/diner, a garden area and antenatal areas. In addition, there is a parent education room and two antenatal consulting rooms. Complementary and alternative therapies such as reflexology are also provided.

The report highlights positive outcomes for mothers and babies including the following areas which all achieved excellent performances compared to average national figures:

• More than 88% of women experienced a normal birth
• Only 1.7% of mums experienced an episiotomy
• 77% of first time mothers starting labour had a normal delivery
• 73% gave birth in water with 84% using the birth pool at some point during labour
A national study of 64,000 low risk women found that only 66% of low risk first time mothers giving birth in hospital would expect to have a normal delivery.

Cllr Dan Daley for Maidstone Central commented: “The years have really sped by and so much has been accomplished. The environment is as fresh today as it was five years ago. Congratulations to all for a job, not just well done but continuing to be done every day!”

Hannah Appelgren, Chair for Birth Voices (Maternity Services Liaison Committee) adds: “Birth Voices is thrilled to have such a wonderful birth centre available to women and their partners. Women we speak to about their birth experiences have all praised the Centre and the staff that work there, describing how valuable they found the midwife-led care. The importance of having a positive birth experience cannot be underestimated.”

Jenny Cleary, Head of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Sexual Health commented: “We were so delighted that so many Mums and their babies joined us for presentations and a slice of cake. The last five years have seen a dedicated team work together to provide the best possible experience for mums to be and their families.

“The data in our five year report reinforces evidence that for low risk women, birth is as safe for babies in a Birth Centre as it is in hospital, with the added benefit of reduced intervention for the mother, including lower rates of caesarean, instrumental birth and episiotomy.”

Weekly tours of the Centre are available for Mums to be every Friday at 6.30pm and should be booked by contacting the Centre direct on 01622 220161.

ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The Birth Place in England study (2011) studied a total of 64,000 women with an uncomplicated pregnancy and found that birth is as safe for babies in a Birth Centre as it is in hospital, with the added benefit of reduced intervention for the mother.
2. A guest book is used to record comments from mums and their families. Some of the quotes include: ‘A wonderful experience and the greatest care and attention imaginable’ and ‘From the moment we arrived here we were looked after like we were family’