Hartlepool couple welcomes first baby born at town's NHS trust on International Midwives' Day

Amy Beattie and Luke Weighill welcomed their as yet unnamed baby son into the world at 8.10am on Tuesday, May 5 – a day when midwives across the globe are recognised for their incredible work.

The new arrival, who weighed in at 7lb and 5oz, was delivered by midwife Jacquline Lewis.

As the coronavirus lockdown continues, midwives at the Trust are continuing to provide their usual standards of care in the most challenging of circumstances.

The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted changes to maternity services at the Trust to protect both patients and staff.

This included limiting face-to-face appointments, increasing the use of PPE for staff and creating a dedicated phone line staffed by qualified midwives.

Steph El-Malak, Head of Maternity Services at the Trust, said: “We fully understand that our mums-to-be will have concerns and worries during this difficult time.

“We’ve been hard at work to make changes to our maternity services, so we can limit face-to-face contact where possible, but still make sure their pregnancy journey is safe and leads to a happy and healthy baby.

“When contact is required, staff will wear the correct personal protective equipment to minimise any possibility of infection.”

Mum Laura Balderson welcomed her daughter Eden into the world on Friday, April 3 under the Trust’s care.

The baby girl weighed 7lbs and 1oz, with Laura, also mum to four-year-old Alfie, praising staff for giving her and husband Neil a ‘really positive’ experience.

She added: “I felt really anxious about going into hospital due to the ongoing pandemic.

“I was worried the strain on the hospital was only going to get worse as more Covid-19 cases were confirmed.

“However, we needn't have worried. The staff were so professional and calm, the whole experience didn't feel too dissimilar from Alfie's birth in 2015.

“I would say, if you are unsure about anything or would like any advice, do ask the midwives while you're in hospital as postnatal home visits and check-ups are limited at the moment.”

For more information on maternity services during the coronavirus outbreak, click here.

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