Don’t the numbers grow so fast!

Neath Port Talbot Hospital’s Birth Centre has welcomed its 200th new arrival in just over a year since reopening.

The facility was temporarily closed in 2021due to staffing pressures but reopened in September of last year following a £750,000 investment by the health board and the recruitment of 35 new staff to its maternity service.

It welcomed its first baby less than 24 hours later with Rafaellos Olding being born at 3.50am on Tuesday, 17th September, 2024, weighing a healthy 8lbs 1oz.

Now Mila Thomas Noon has taken the number of newborns to the 200 mark, having arrived at 4.04am on Friday, 3rd October, weighing 7lbs 10 ounces.

Mila’s proud parents, Holly Noon and Rhys Thomas, were congratulated by staff and posed for pictures in front of balloons marking the occasion.

First-time mum Hollie, who is from Margam, said the birth centre had proved the ideal location for giving birth.

She said: “It just seemed like a really nice place to give birth. We had our antenatal classes there and we had a tour of the birthing suit. It was a lovely environment, so we thought it would be the perfect place to have her.

“I used a birthing pool. It was so nice. There were candles lit everywhere, we had our own private room. It was super lovely.”

She was impressed by the water birth.

She said: “They had the pool in the room and I really wanted to try it as they said that it’s good for pain relief.

“I was in and out and it was really enjoyable.

“We went in on the Thursday (the day before Mila was born) and ended up staying the night on the Friday – we were going to go home but decided to stay as they had loads of breastfeeding support as well.”

Being ‘local’ had the benefit of being well placed for their extended family to visit.

Hollie said: “It’s so good to have a facility like this in Swansea Bay. One hundred per cent.

“All my family visited as well. We had our own private room – the staff were in and out checking on us – it was like our own private bubble.

“The whole family said it was an amazing experience. It was like a home away from home.”

Hollie was just as impressed by the dedicated staff as the centre itself.

She said: “The staff were amazing. My midwife, Malen Williams, I’d seen since the start of my pregnancy and she was there the day I went in, so there was that continuity and relationship with her. It was so lovely. She was amazing.

“All of the staff, through the night, were really good. We can’t fault them at all. I’m so grateful to every one of them.”

The new family faced some light-hearted rivalry in ‘the race’ to become the 200th new arrival.

Hollie explained: “They did tell us that they were expecting their 200th baby and towards the last hour of the labour it was between me and another lady. They joked, ‘come on, it’s a bit of competition to see who can get the 200th baby.’

“We had a little picture afterwards. That was really nice. They had balloons and things.”

Hollie has shared her story in a bid to encourage other mums to be to consider making use of the birth centre.

She said: “I would definitely recommend it to other mums-to-be. It was so lovely. I would recommend it to anyone. It was such a lovely experience.

“It was so nice, so private, yet there was always someone there if you needed them.

“My advice would be to go for a little tour. I think they have open days as well that are worth watching out for.”

Consultant Midwife Victoria Owens welcomed the new arrival and said that the facility was the busiest freestanding birth centre in Wales.

She said: “Neath Port Talbot Birth Centre is such an important part of our maternity service in Swansea Bay. It has been wonderful to feel the joy from families, and midwives alike, since the return of this place as a birth option.

“Hearing positive birth experiences, like that of Hollie and her family, reinforces the known benefits of midwifery-led birth settings for many women.

“We are incredibly proud to be the busiest freestanding midwifery unit in Wales, every baby and birth is celebrated but to welcome baby Mila, as the 200th baby, was an important service milestone.”

Anyone who is currently pregnant is welcome to discuss their birthplace options with their community midwife, and if anyone would like to view the birth centre at Neath Port Talbot Hospital, please contact the unit directly to arrange this.

The Birth Centre’s direct number is 01639 862103.

 

Picture caption: Midwife, Malen Williams with Hollie, Mila and Rhys.