New arrival for maternity team ....

A new specialist high-risk antenatal midwife working across Northumberland and North Tyneside has joined the expert maternity team at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Gail Brown, 30, from North Shields, has been appointed into a brand new role with Northumbria and will provide specialist care for women from across the area who are experiencing ‘high-risk’ pregnancies.

Her expert role will involve caring for women who are expecting twins or multiple births, those with a raised body mass index (BMI), advising women on alcohol intake and smoking cessation, as well as dedicated professional support for families experiencing issues relating to substance misuse.

Gail will be working across Northumberland and North Tyneside where specialist high-risk antenatal clinics take place on alternative weeks at Wansbeck and North Tyneside general hospitals. She will also visit other clinics held across the trust’s community hospitals.

She will also be caring for women in the new Birthing Centre at The Northumbria where all high-risk deliveries across Northumberland and North Tyneside now take place, including multiple births. Over 215 babies have been born at the new Birthing Centre during the first month of opening.

Commenting on her new role, Gail said:

“It is fantastic to join such a forward-thinking organisation and provide care from the fantastic new birthing facility at The Northumbria.

The women I look after may be experiencing high-risk pregnancies for a whole variety of reasons and I take great pride in providing that specialist one-to-one support and advice. Many people do not realise that twins can be delivered at our new facility at The Northumbria and it has been great to talk to local women and advise them on what services are available with us.”

The Birthing Centre at Northumbria includes 14 en-suite delivery rooms, two en-suite birthing pool rooms, 20 individual en-suite bedrooms, each with its own TV and reclining chair for partners to stay overnight and all with access to restaurant facilities open 24/7 for meals and snacks. It also has specialist ‘Febromed’ equipment to help keep women both relaxed and mobile during labour and facilitate normal birth.

Northumbria’s highly-experienced midwifery team is on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the new Birthing Centre offering a friendly and relaxed atmosphere and home from home, natural birthing experience.

For women with high-risk pregnancies, unexpected complications, or who are experiencing difficulties during labour, a consultant obstetrician is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with a dedicated maternity theatre, special care baby unit and neonatal resuscitation all within close proximity in the purposely-designed maternity suite.

Pregnant women are now able to book at the new Birthing Centre @ Northumbria by calling 0191 6072318.