Baby Saoirse makes history as first arrival at Antrim’s £5.7m midwifery-led unit

Baby Saoirse with proud parents Emma Walsh and Adam Martin

Baby Saoirse has become the first baby born in Antrim Area Hospital’s new £5.7 million Midwifery-Led Unit, which gives women with straightforward pregnancies another choice over how they give birth.

Parents Emma Walsh and Adam Martin welcomed their daughter safely on Friday 11 September, marking the first birth in the purpose-built facility.

For Emma, the experience was everything she had hoped for:

“The whole experience could not have been better. All the staff were so supportive from start to finish. The facilities in the new unit are everything you could possibly need for a dream birth.”

Three birthing rooms with individual pools

The new unit provides midwife-led care in a calm, non-medicalised environment, with immediate access to medical assistance if required. Each of its three birthing rooms has a birthing pool and en-suite facilities.

The development offers more choice to families across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including those from Ballymena and the wider area who use maternity services at Antrim.

Caroline Diamond, Assistant Director of Women’s Services and Head of Midwifery, said:

“This is an important milestone for the Northern Trust, bringing us in line with other Trusts across Northern Ireland who already have similar units. We look forward to welcoming more families into this fantastic facility for years to come.”

A memorable first arrival

Baby Saoirse

Suzanne Pullins, the Trust’s Interim Chief Executive, congratulated Saoirse’s parents and described the first birth as a memorable occasion for staff.

She said:

“We want to send our warmest congratulations to Emma and Adam on the birth of baby Saoirse – we were absolutely delighted that they were able to welcome their bundle of joy into the world in our unit. It was a memorable day for everyone!

“The opening of the Midwifery-Led Unit will provide families with a modern, high-quality environment and ensure our midwives have the facilities they need to continue delivering outstanding care for mothers and babies.”

New choice following consolidation of hospital births

The unit’s development was a requirement set by the Department of Health’s former Permanent Secretary Peter May when he approved the Trust Board’s recommendation to consolidate all hospital births at Antrim Area Hospital.

Since July 2023, all inpatient births within the Northern Trust have taken place at Antrim. Causeway Hospital continues to provide antenatal and postnatal care.

Women considering the new unit can discuss whether it is suitable for their pregnancy with their midwife.

Caroline Diamond said:

“If you’re expecting a baby, you can speak to your midwife about your options and consider whether our Midwifery-Led Unit might be the right choice for your birth.”