BRENNAN Davies is a real water baby – the first to be born in the Royal Gwent Hospital’s new birthing pool two and a half weeks ago.

And midwifery bosses hope there will be many more to come, as mothers-to-be opt for a water birth, or use the pool to help with pain relief in the early stages of labour.

All four Gwent hospitals where births take place – the Royal Gwent, Newport, Nevill Hall, Abergavenny, Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale, and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach – now have permanent birthing pools, giving women more choice of labour and birth options.

For Brennan’s mum, Vivien, it was a race against time to give birth in the pool, which had only just been cleared for use when she went into labour.

“I had a bath at home when I was in early labour with my daughter (Ffion, now aged 21 months), and felt that was very relaxing and helping me,” said Mrs Davies, who lives in Caldicot with husband Llyr.

“I’d have liked a water birth with her, but there wasn’t a pool available. So when I heard from my midwife about the Royal Gwent getting a pool I was very keen.

“It was a bit touch and go but luckily I was able to use it. I didn’t know I was the first one.

“It was very relaxing. There was just me, with my husband and the midwife in the room, and it definitely helped ease labour pains, and I only had gas and air.”

Deb Jackson, Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s head of midwifery, said Gwent now has more birthing pools than any other health board area.

“It’s another choice for mothers- to-be and a very important one for those with low-risk pregnancies,” she said.

“We all know water is the best place for women in labour to relax. It heightens their experience and eases pain.”

‘There should be more, so valuable’

THE pool was formerly at the birth centre at the now closed Caerphilly Miners Hospital, and its installation at the Royal Gwent was funded with £35,000 from the health board’s charitable funds.

Sarah Buchanan, vice-chairman of the board’s maternity services liaison committee – which includes women who have used Gwent maternity services – said birthing pools are “a really valuable resource” and there ought to be more available, not only in Wales, but across the UK.