Joy as babies born in time for Christmas at Stroud Maternity Hospital

Sophie Cresswell, from Berkeley, gave birth to son Ifan Elias Nicholas Cresswell at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital (GRH) on Tuesday 20th December.

Weighing in at 9lbs, Ifan is doing well and mum and dad, Daniel, are preparing the family for their new arrival.

Sophie said: “Alexander, our 3-year-old, is so excited to have a baby brother. We’re a bit more organised this time round and are planning to have a lovely Christmas Day together. It’s such a special time of the year.

"After some complications baby and mum are now doing well.

"We’re healthy and I don’t think we could have wished for more.”

Mum Lucy King, of Brockworth, Gloucester, gave birth to baby Jasper on Monday 19 December.

Jasper is doing well weighing in at just 5lb 8z and they’ll be home ahead of the big day. 

She said: “It’s a very emotional time and I’m just incredibly grateful and thankful for the team here who’ve been absolutely brilliant in looking after us.” 

Jo Williamson gave birth to their son Sunny Charles, on Wednesday 21st December. He weighed in at 7lbs 10oz. Dad Daniel Fitton is also doing well.

Jo said: “We’re excited and a little daunted at the same time. But this is the best  Christmas present we could possibly have.”  

Sue Maxwell, Midwifery Matron at GRH, added: “We are immensely proud of the team and delivering new born babies is an enormous privilege.

“It’s been a particularly gloomy year although there’s hope and none more so than bringing new life into the world particularly at this time of the year.

"It’s great to see our mums doing so well and I wish them all a very merry Christmas.” 

Mum-of-two Hannah Wilson give birth to a healthy baby girl weighing in at 7lb and 1oz at Stroud Maternity Unit (SMU). She’s now looking forward to very special Christmas. 

She said: “As we have a toddler at home, I think it will give us a bit more time to dedicate Christmas to her as well. It'll be really magical.

"Our older daughter is very excited and the baby has bought her big sister the best Christmas present.

“I have to say it was really calm and relaxed - a beautiful environment to have a baby. The water birth was brilliant.” 

Dad Stephen added: "The environment, here in Stroud, is all about creating an atmosphere of complete relaxation and you know you've got really fantastic, experienced professionals who are looking after you."

"It's all focused around mum and it's like a home-from-home."

"The whole thing has just been magical - because it's all midwives in Stroud it's like having a massive super mum, it's like a family."

Alex Lloyd, Lead Midwife at SMU, said: “It’s such a special feeling to give birth particularly at this time of the year.

"This is Hannah’s second baby with us in Stroud and we’re really thrilled for her and her family.

"We wish them a very merry Christmas.”

Reminder about provision at Stroud Maternity Hospital 

There is some misunderstanding and confusion over service provision at SMU and in Stroud more generally. The unit continues to provide the following provision:

• Birthing unit with access to birthing pools and ensuite rooms
• Postnatal care for those families in Stroud continues to be available in the first 6/12 hours post birth in Stroud birthing rooms after which families are discharge home. If a mother or baby born at Stroud needs postnatal care that requires on-going in hospital monitoring, this will be accommodated on our Maternity Ward at GRH
• The community midwifery service in Stroud remains unchanged. Women are offered home visits or the opportunity to attend a postnatal clinic run by midwives in the postnatal period
• Breastfeeding parent support at the Unit.