Meet the first babies born at Wirral's new birth unit

Harley Goulding-Bioletti was the first baby to be born at the unit on May 22, 2018 weighing 7lb 2oz and just two days later 6lb 15oz Margot Fitzsimmons arrived.

Harley's mum Stacy Goulding lives just two minutes from the centre and after having two hospital births previously, she wanted a less clinical setting to give birth to Harley and registered with the Highfield Midwives who are part of Wirral University Teaching Hospital.

Stacy said: "I am honoured that Harley was the first baby born here and have such special memories of his birth.

"The Children’s Centre is very familiar to me as my other children went to nursery there.

"I had always dreamt of having a water birth and when I met the Highfield Midwives, they were so welcoming and reassuring that it just made sense for me to choose the birth centre.

“Being in that environment helped me to stay so calm throughout my labour, so much so that I didn’t even need gas and air.

"It felt a lot more relaxed than I did when having my previous children and I am convinced that this helped me to have the birth I wanted.

"I was lucky that Harley fed straight away and after two hours of him being born, I was able to take him home and introduce him to his big brothers before our midwife visit later that evening.

“I would honestly tell anyone considering using the birth centre to go for it.”

Stacy made local history becoming the first ever woman to have her baby at the unit.

Midwife Carly Nulty, who delivered Harley said: "There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the birth centre opening and I am thrilled to have had the honour of delivering little Harley.

"Stacy was amazing throughout and is a great example of why I get so much job satisfaction from being one of the Highfield Midwives.

"Being able to offer women more choice about where they give birth is really important and our approach allows us to get to know women well during their pregnancy, which helps to build trust and make them feel more comfortable.

"It is lovely being based at the Children’s Centre because I get to bump into our mums and their babies when they come to activities or health visitor clinics.”

Rebecca Higgins with baby Margot and Stacy Goulding with little Harley

Based at Seacombe Children’s Centre and run by Wirral Council, the pilot birthing unit will encourage women with a low risk of complications to give birth in a non-medicalised setting where wrap-around services are also available to support families post-natal and beyond.

First time parents Rebecca Higgins and Michael Fitzsimmons from Wallasey had taken part in hypnobirthing classes before Rebecca decided she would give birth to Margot at the centre.

Michael said: “Our experience at the birth centre was so relaxed and laid back.

"The support we both received was great, without being too intrusive and there was lots of encouragement at all the right times.”

Although she was only born three weeks ago, baby Margot has already been back to Seacombe Children’s Centre, where she snoozed her way through a ‘baby sense’ class and Rebecca is looking forward to taking part in more activities as they enjoy precious time together over the coming months.

Wirral’s Cabinet Member for Children and Families Cllr Bernie Mooney told the Globe: ‘‘It’s such lovely news that we’ve been able to welcome these new babies straight into their local community with the birthing unit at the Children’s Centre.

"It’s clear that the centre plays a key role for families, and the ability to offer parents a choice to have their babies in a different environment, really close to home, just adds to this.

"I hope we get to welcome Margot and Harley back again very soon.”

For more information about having a baby at the birth centre in Seacombe or if you are thinking about a home birth as your community midwife to refer you to the Highfield Birth Team.

Or contact them directly by email wuth.birthteam@nhs.net or by calling 0151 666 3131.