Five new mums give Vale of Leven Hospital a seal of approval

Nov 21 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

FIVE new mums are helping to dispel the myth that first-timers can’t give birth at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

The women all produced healthy babies over a busy September weekend at the hospital’s Community Maternity Unit (CMU).

And this week they joined with midwives to tell other mums-to-be: “Don’t let anyone say you can’t have your baby at the Vale.”

Aisling Milne, Michelle Methven, Sinead Isle, Jennifer Wight and Fiona Nicholson all made the decision to give birth at the CMU – despite the fact many GPs appear to advise against it.

Their confidence in the unit – which recent avoided being axed by health chiefs who argued delivery numbers were too low – has pushed the number of first-time births there this year to a record high of 42 per cent.

The figure is a huge boost for staff, who say they are “ready and waiting” for new mums. Midwife team leader, Marie Whalen, said: “There is a myth that first-time mums cannot deliver with us, but our five births over the September weekend prove that just isn’t the case. We’ve had our highest-ever percentage of first-time mums giving birth this year.

“A lot are told by their GPs that they can’t come here. Word is slowly but surely getting out that we are here and we provide a good service. These mums’ choice is a huge boost to staff confidence.”

Michelle, from Dumbarton, who gave birth to son, Paul, at the unit, described the experience as “brilliant”.

She said: “You get more one-on-one care here, unlike at the big hospitals which are more like a production line. They really take care of you.

“A lot of my friends asked why I was coming here but I wanted to because I knew I would get the kind of attention I wouldn’t get at any other hospital.”

Aisling asked to give birth at the CMU where she had attended for scans and pre-natal courses.

Aisling, from Rosneath, who gave birth to daughter, Fallon, added: “It was the best option any of us could have had for the most natural birth. I’d be happy to come back here. It’s not like other hospitals, with people coming in and out all the time. You get more space. It’s homely and the relaxation helps.

“I’d recommend any first-time mum to come to the Vale.”

Marie agreed that the comfortable surroundings played a big part in ensuring a positive birth experience. She explained: “Research has proved that a relaxed atmosphere helps mums progress better in labour.

“If they are anxious and stressed, labour gets disturbed which affects the baby as well. We just want mums to know we are here and waiting for them.”