Wirral University Teaching Hospital is encouraging mums-to-be to get in touch if they need to transfer their maternity care.

Hundreds lost access to their midwives after a community service was forced to close.

Women across the Northwest have been affected after One to One announced it was withdrawing the services it provided for the NHS.

The company said the contracts it had did not pay enough to make the service financially viable.

One to One specialised in home births.

NHS ADVICE FOR WIRRAL

Expectant mums can call 0151 604 7501 (select option 1) to arrange care and support from Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, which earlier this year achieved one of the best results in the country in a survey by the health regulator about the experiences of women who give birth there.

The hospital was one of nine NHS trusts identified as being “better than expected” in a national survey by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It also achieved the best results in Merseyside and Cheshire.

Under the care of the experienced NHS midwives women can choose from four places to give birth to their baby in Wirral including:

• The pioneering birth centre based in Wallasey. With a pool, a birthing chair, bean bags and an adjustable birth bed, the birth unit at Seacombe Children’s Centre provides a safe, family-friendly environment for low-risk women who don’t want a home birth but would prefer to avoid the medical setting of a hospital.

• At home. Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital offers the option of home birth to all suitable women. The Highfield Birth Team, supported by our Community Midwives, support and care for women throughout their pregnancy and labour if they wish to give birth at home, enabling them to remain with their family and in familiar, comfortable surroundings. We can also provide a home birthing pool if they wish to use it for pain relief or a water birth.

• The Eden Suite. This is a cosy, home from home environment with two birthing pools that provides a safe and relaxed setting within Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital. Eden Suite has two birthing pools and a birthing chair as well as adjustable beds, bean bags and birthing balls to help women stay active during their labour. There is a variety of aromatherapy oils available for pain relief and relaxation and some of our midwives are trained in the use of aromatherapy.

• The Delivery Suite in Wirral Women and Children's Hospital. If women or their babies need to be more closely monitored during labour, they will be cared for by midwives as well as obstetricians who work together as a team. The Delivery Suite has one birthing pool, which allows babies to be continuously monitored in the water giving mums-to-be the option of having a water birth or using water as pain relief if medically appropriate. There are also two operating theatres on Delivery Suite if they are needed.

The Highfield Midwives, who are dedicated to women choosing to have their babies at home or in Seacombe Birth Centre won the Midwifery Achievement award at the 2018 Northern Maternity and Midwifery Festival after being recognised for the continuity of care they provide.

They are hosting a coffee morning on Wednesday,  August 7, where expectant parents can drop into Seacombe Birth Centre anytime between 11am and 1pm to meet the team, have a look around the facilities and chat about their options.

For more information about the maternity care available from Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, visit wuth.nhs.uk and search ‘prenatal’.