Bedford Hospitals Charity
The Duckling Appeal
A recent focus of the Hospitals Charity has been the Duckling Appeal to raise £200,000 to upgrade parts of the Maternity Department and create a new Midwifery-led Unit within the Cygnet Wing at Bedford Hospital. The unit provides home-like surroundings where mums-to-be will be cared for by Midwives.
The new rooms provide a safe, comfortable environment for women whose labour starts spontaneously, progresses without complications and without the use of drugs.
With the support of the Midwife the suite will help mothers to feel relaxed, secure and confident. There are options of choosing to use the birthing pool, birthing mats or beanbags; make a hot drink or use one’s own en suite.
Support, a relaxed environment, mobility and water immersion help to keep labour normal which increases the chance of a normal birth. This in turn will get the family off to a good start, assist bonding and make it easier to establish breast feeding.
The Community responded with the generosity it has shown in the past, and the Duckling Appeal reached its £200,000 target in 2010. The upgraded Maternity Department is now in use and is much appreciated by mothers and staff alike.
