Babies arrive when they’re good and ready and staff at the Vale of Leven Community Maternity Unit were kept on their toes when they welcomed three newborns within 24 hours.
Tullichewan mum Gail Russell welcomed her third baby Melody at 10.03am on March 10 and next up was Kirsteen McCallion who delivered little Maisie at 2.47pm.
Finally the trio was complete for the team when they helped another mum give birth at home in the area at 6.33am on March 11.
The experience was everything Gail had dreamt of of as she welcomed her third child into the world.
She said: “I had always wanted to give birth at the Vale CMU but with both my boys I was well overdue, so needed to be induced at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
“This time I went into labour myself, so I was able to have Melody there.
“It was everything I ever dreamed of – I even got the water birth I had always wanted.
“When we arrived at the Vale just after 7am I got straight into the pool and started on some gas and air.
“But the water really helped and I was able to relax enough to stop the gas and air and labour without it.
“Niamh was absolutely fabulous, she has a lovely bedside manner and was helping and chatting to me throughout. She was so supportive. When Melody was born at 10.03am and I was still in the pool. I was able to reach down and catch her.
“It was perfect – what I had wanted all along. It was like my body knew what to do.
“Melody is my last baby, so it is lovely that I got the birth of my dreams. It was a nice way to finish.”
Gail says the other great thing about giving birth at the CMU was that she was home for lunchtime. She added: “We just live in Tullichewan and I had wanted to go home quickly. We were home for 12.45am and we all went for a lovely nap.
“One of my sons is just two, so I wanted to keep things as normal as possible. It was just perfect for all of us.”
It was a great experience for student midwife Niamh Dickson, was on hand to assist with the birth of Gail’s baby.
Niamh is a third-year student at the University of the West of Scotland and lives locally in Dumbarton.
She said: “This was my 35th birth, but my first-ever water birth. It was also the first birth I have been at in a CMU.
“It was all so lovely and relaxed. Gail was completely in the zone and she and her partner Tom were great together.
“The birth process still amazes me. Each birth is special and women are so strong. As I say this was my first water birth, so a new experience for me. It was beautiful.”
The unit’s senior charge midwife is Marie Whalen. She said: “It is always lovely to support women in their choice of birthing locally. It was a busy 24 hours for the unit but a very rewarding experience for all involved.
“We have a great team of midwives at the Vale of Leven and we all work well together.
“It was particularly nice that the student midwives were involved.”
