A new mum has thanked the team at her local Community Maternity Unit (CMU) for the smooth and safe delivery of her little girl – and has urged other mums thinking of using the service to go for it.
Elena Romeo, 33, from Barrhead, opted for the CMU at the Royal Alexandra Hospital after it was suggested to her during a prenatal appointment – and she is delighted that she made that choice.
“Everyone was so kind and supportive,” she said. “The staff helped the day go so smoothly.”
Baby Azzurra was born on June 13 and Elena was able to take her home the same day, to be with her dad, Elena’s husband Andrea Fisichella, 37, and brothers Alessandro, six, and three year-old Simone.
And when asked if she would recommend the unit to other families, her answer was simple: “Definitely. I had such a positive experience, and I would recommend it to other mums.”
The CMU, which is housed within the maternity building at the Paisley hospital, offers an environment that is less clinical than some traditional labour wards.
A highly motivated and passionate team of midwives work with women to facilitate their birth preferences and place of birth. The ethos of the CMU is to provide low risk care to women and their families, from Paisley, Renfrewshire and across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's (NHSGGC) Clyde sector.
In addition, the unit supports women from further afield who transfer specifically to give birth at the CMU.
The unit’s environment is one of peace and tranquillity, which aims to create a home from home experience. It has a birthing pool within a spacious room on the third floor with beautiful views of the Gleniffer Braes.
All its rooms are en-suite with mood lighting, soft music and birth balls, and its staff support hypnobirthing and aromatherapy techniques.
The service the unit was able to provide was severely curtailed during the pandemic, but with services now returning to normal, staff at the unit are encouraging women to follow in Elena’s footsteps and choose delivery at the CMU.
Nicola Fry, senior charge midwife at the unit, said: “Giving birth is one of the most memorable moments in the life of any woman, and their family, and anything we can do to enhance that experience is a wonderful thing.
“Things have been difficult for the past few years and, despite the wonderful person-centred care our teams continued to provide throughout the pandemic, it was frustrating and often upsetting for women, their families and staff that childbirth wasn’t quite what it might have been at other times.
“That’s why everyone at the maternity unit is delighted that services are getting back to normal – and nowhere more so than at the CMU. We would recommend that women speak to their GP or antenatal care team to discuss this as an option for them.”
Mairi McDermid, associate chief midwife at NHSGGC, said: “It is always lovely to hear a really positive story of childbirth. The team at the CMU, and at maternity units throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, work hard every day to facilitate women’s childbirth choices, and I would like to thank them all for their continuing hard work and commitment.”
People interested in using the community maternity unit, should speak to a member of staff during their antenatal appointment, or contact their GP, to discuss their options.
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