A new midwifery-led unit at Antrim Area Hospital has welcomed its first baby. Saoirse was born on Friday 11 September to parents Emma Walsh and Adam Martin.

The £5.7 million facility provides midwife-led care in a non-medicalised setting for women with straightforward pregnancies. It has three birthing rooms, each with a birthing pool and en-suite facilities. Immediate medical assistance is available if required.

Walsh described the experience as excellent, saying all staff were supportive from start to finish and that the facilities were everything needed for a dream birth.

Caroline Diamond, Assistant Director of Women's Services and Head of Midwifery, said the milestone brings the Northern Trust in line with other trusts in Northern Ireland that already have similar units.

Suzanne Pullins, the Trust's Interim Chief Executive, congratulated the parents and said it was a memorable day for staff. She added that the unit will provide a modern, high-quality environment for families and ensure midwives have the facilities needed to deliver outstanding care.

The unit's development was required by the Department of Health's former Permanent Secretary Peter May when he approved the consolidation of 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 unit can discuss its suitability with their midwife, Diamond said.