THE FIRST baby to be born in the new birth centre at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital was welcomed back by staff on his first birthday.
Oscar Andrews was born at the Meadow Birth Centre on April 14 at 8.51am, joining older brother Philip.
Now teething and beginning to walk, Oscar and his family, from Wick, Pershore, returned to the unit to celebrate the one-year anniversary.
Proud parents Claire and Oliver said they were thrilled to have been the first to have a new baby in the centre and would recommend the unit to anyone.
Claire said: “It was the perfect place to give birth really. The room was beautiful and so relaxing.
“I’d definitely encourage any other expectant mother to have your baby here.
“What was great was that it didn’t feel like we were in a hospital. It’s very different to the delivery suite where I had Philip.
“The centre just gives you a quiet, calm and relaxing way of giving birth happily.”
Officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal last year, the homely, midwife-led unit offers a comfortable environment where birth is treated as a ‘normal’ process without intervention, rather than a medical one.
Since then, 600 babies have been born in the unit and staff are aiming for 800 in the second year by taking on more women which previously may have given birth on the delivery suite.
Meadow Birth Centre midwife team leader, Louise Turbutt, said: “We are so proud of what we’ve achieved in our first year, and we’ve far exceeded our expectations of how many babies would be born in the centre.
“That’s fantastic news, not just for us, but for the women of Worcestershire and beyond who have experienced giving birth in this unit.
“We are committed to offering a relaxing and homely environment for mothers to have the best possible birth experience they can.”
The Meadow Birth Centre is celebrating its first birthday by holding a party tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm for mothers who have had their baby in the centre, or anyone who is thinking of doing so, to join with midwives running the centre.
Anyone is welcome to attend the event in Charles Hasting Education Centre.
