Countess of Chester Maternity Services

17/11/2025

🌼 A Lovely October in Our Maternity Unit! 🌼

October was another busy and joyful month for our teams, with 175 babies welcomed into the world, including three sets of twins, two home births and ten births on our Midwifery Led Unit 💕

Our thoughts are with all families who experienced baby loss this month 🤍

If you had your baby with us in October, we’d love to see your photos or hear your stories in the comments below ✨

22/10/2025

🌸 What a Month for Our Maternity Team! 🌸

September was a busy and exciting month as we settled into our beautiful new Women & Children’s building! 💕

We welcomed 152 babies into the world — including one set of twins, four water births, and one home birth!

We’re so proud of our teams for continuing to provide safe, compassionate care during such a big move, and we’re thrilled to be supporting families as they welcome their babies in our new home.

💗 73% of babies had breastmilk for their first feed
💗 The most popular names were Ava, Grace, Luca, and Charlie

If you had your baby with us in September, we’d love to see your photos and hear your stories in the comments below 👶✨

17/10/2025

🌼 New Infant Feeding Workshops – Now in Ellesmere Port and Online! 🌼

Following feedback from our Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership, our Infant Feeding Team are delighted to announce that we’ve expanded our popular workshops!

Join us to learn about:
🤱Feeding your baby
🤱Building close and loving relationships
🤱What to expect in the early days

📍 In person: Ellesmere Port Hospital – once a month on Thursday evenings, 6–8pm
💻 Online: Once a month on Saturday afternoons, 2–4pm

✨ Next Ellesmere Port session: Thursday evening – places still available!

To book your free place, call 01244 363646 or email coc.parenteducation@nhs.net
We’d love to see you there and support you on your feeding journey 💕

17/10/2025

Such a beautiful video diary from a new mum in our new building — thank you for sharing!

It’s been wonderful to see your moments, memories and reflections coming through. Keep them coming — we’re loving every single one. 💙

45 likes, 3 comments. “what a whirlwind few days that was for our 3rd and final baby. The new women and childrens building is amazing.”

10/10/2025

This week, we’re sharing the story of Rowen Emmett O-Toole, Milo’s mum, whose milk donation in his memory helped shape the Memory Milk Gift initiative at the Countess Milk Bank.

Her experience inspired Lactation After Loss – a free NHS course developed by our Milk Bank and Newcastle Hospitals to help staff feel confident having sensitive, informed conversations with families about milk donation after loss. Over 500 NHS professionals have already taken part, and the course was recently shortlisted for a national award.

💙 As part of Baby Loss Awareness Week, we’re also inviting families to join our Ribbon Remembrance Walk:
🗓️ Saturday 11 October, 3pm
📍 Countess of Chester Country Park (next to our main hospital, where this video was shot)
Walk the ribbon-lined route to the Milk Bank’s Remembrance Garden, write your baby’s name on a ribbon, and join us for tea, coffee and cake.
Family-friendly event – children may be present.

And if you’d like to take part in a community-led service:
🕯️ Baby Loss Service at Chester Cathedral
🗓️ Sunday 19 October, 3.30pm
📍 Chester Cathedral, CH1 2DY
Open to all. No booking needed. Refreshments available.

01/10/2025

🏥 The first NHS net-zero building is right here in Chester - how amazing is that? 🌱💚

We’re proud to announce that the Countess of Chester Hospital has made history with our brand-new Women and Children’s Building - the first completed NHS facility in England to meet the NHS Net Zero Building Standard! 🎉

This isn’t just a national milestone - it’s a moment of pride for Chester. As an anchor institution in our city, we’re leading the way in creating a healthier, greener future for our community.

💡 The building is fully electric, powered by renewable energy, and designed to become even more sustainable over time as the UK’s energy grid decarbonises. It’s also one of the top 10% most energy-efficient buildings in the UK, with smart lighting, heat recovery systems, and eco-friendly materials throughout.

🌿 It’s not just about carbon - it’s about care. From family-friendly spaces and sensory rooms to tranquil gardens and natural light-filled wards, this building was shaped by feedback from staff, patients, and local families.

👏 A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this possible - especially our community, who inspired so much of the design, and to our staff and construction partners, IHP.

👉 Read the full story and explore the building’s incredible features: https://ow.ly/GONa50X4OgR

💬 What does this achievement mean to you and our city? Let us know in the comments below!

27/09/2025

🎉 Celebrating World Patient Safety Day! 🧡

We marked this important day [17 September] with a vibrant showcase in our newly opened Women and Children’s Building — the perfect place to highlight how we’re working to ensure safe, compassionate care for children and babies.

Over 100 visitors joined us to explore how our teams are making a difference every day. From interactive stands to inspiring conversations, the event was a celebration of the dedication, talent, and teamwork that define our staff.

💬 We’ve had brilliant feedback — thank you to everyone who came along, hosted a stand, or helped behind the scenes. Your support made the day a real success.

25/09/2025

📢 Paracetamol is safe to take during pregnancy.

There is no evidence linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism in children.

In this short video, NHS England’s Chief Midwifery Officer Kate Brintworth explains why paracetamol remains the recommended treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy — and why managing these symptoms safely matters for both you and your baby.

💬 If you have questions, speak to your midwife or GP. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

🔗 More info: https://www.coch.nhs.uk/corporate-information/news/response-to-news-stories-about-the-safety-of-paracetamol-in-pregnancy.aspx

16/09/2025

🎉 A special arrival at the Countess of Chester Hospital 🎉

History was made on Tuesday 9 September as baby girl Wateen became the first baby born in our new Women and Children’s Building – on the very day our new labour and maternity wards opened!

Born weighing 3,285 grams (7 lbs 4 oz), Wateen and her parents Enas and Hasaboaldaim were cared for in one of our light-filled, single en-suite rooms. Flowers were gifted by our midwifery team to mark the occasion💐

Enas shared: “My birthing experience was really positive and special. I felt listened to and cared for. The new building is nice, clean, and pretty – I’d recommend the hospital to other women in the area.”

✨ In our first week, referrals from parents choosing to have their baby with us doubled – and on opening day alone, they were six times the usual number!

We’re proud to begin this new chapter for families in our community, where every detail – from the building’s design to the care our staff provide – is focused on safe, kind and effective maternity care.

👉 Thinking about having your baby with us? Whether you live locally or further afield, it’s quick and simple to self-refer: https://ow.ly/ZMBa50WXt0x

12/09/2025

🎉In August, we had the joy of welcoming 153 babies in what was one of the final months in our old maternity unit before we made the big move to our brand-new home in September. 💫

We welcomed 153 beautiful babies into the world — with Arthur and Isla topping the name charts! 💙💖

📸 Did you welcome your little one in August at the Countess? We'd love to see your photos and hear your stories in the comments!

12/09/2025

💛 Big changes are here – and families are already feeling the difference!

This week marks a major milestone: all of our Women and Children’s services have officially moved into a brand-new building – and the feedback so far has been fantastic.

Designed with care, comfort, and connection in mind, we are excited to unveil our new Paediatrics Department, which is already making hospital stays easier for children and their families or carers.

Our Acute Paediatrics team – dedicated, compassionate, and highly skilled – cares for children up to age 16 in this brand new purpose-built 22-bed unit. Working closely with Paediatric Emergency Services, the team delivers seamless, family-centred care, with two high-dependency rooms and dedicated adolescent spaces.

Here’s what families are already benefiting from:
🛏️Every child now has their own room with an ensuite for privacy
🛏️ For a parent or carer, there’s no more sleeping in a chair beside curtains – a second bed is provided for you in the room
🧸 The department features child-friendly spaces, play specialists, and distraction therapies to make hospital a little less scary
☕ And the building has upgraded rest areas and food options for families and staff.

Karen Flewitt, Children’s Unit Manager, said: “The new department is a huge step forward in how we care for and support children, based on the needs of modern-day families. The single rooms, brighter environment, and thoughtful touches make it feel less like a hospital and more like a place where children can recover and recuperate in comfort.”

We’re so proud to unveil this new space – and even prouder to see it already making a difference.