New midwifery-led unit at Hexham General Hospital delivers first baby

The babies were delivered by student midwife Phillipa Talbot, who also delivered the final baby in the old maternity unit.

Midwifery-led units (MLUs) provide a specialised environment for women with low-risk pregnancies, where a midwife serves as the primary healthcare professional throughout their pregnancy.

This approach increases the likelihood of women delivering alongside the same midwife they have built a relationship with during their pregnancy and reduces the need for intervention during birth.

The newly opened unit boasts a spacious birthing suite equipped with a birthing pool featuring LED overhead lighting and Bluetooth connectivity for playing music.

The suite also includes a large open space with kitchen facilities to accommodate birthing partners.

Student midwife, Phillipa, is now in her final year of study.

She has worked alongside the midwives at Hexham for the duration of her 3-year course.

Phillipa said: “I always wanted to become a midwife but I was afraid my dyslexia would hold me back.

“However, I was so inspired by the care I received during my own pregnancies that I decided to make the career change.”

She says that it feels 'rewarding' to have delivered both the final baby at the old unit, and the first in the new.

She said: “It feels rewarding to have been involved in both of the births. It’s like one door has closed and the other has opened to the future of Hexham hospital and I feel lucky to have been a part of it.”

Amy Makepeace, one of the first women to give birth in the new unit, commended the staff and their exceptional care.

She said: “All of the staff were absolutely brilliant. I really felt like I got to know them during my pregnancy which was lovely. Even after I had been discharged, they were there for support.

“The maternity unit doesn’t have a clinical feel to it which made it a much better experience than my previous pregnancies. I hope a lot more women get to give birth here.”