Crowborough Birthing Centre

Festival of Sleep Day is held on January 3rd
Some babies sleep much more than others. Some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts. Some soon sleep through the night, while some don't for a long time.
Your baby will have their own pattern of waking and sleeping, and it's unlikely to be the same as other babies you know.
... It's also unlikely to fit in with your need for sleep. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.
If you're breastfeeding, in the early weeks your baby is likely to doze off for short periods during a feed. Carry on feeding until you think your baby has finished or until they're fully asleep. This is a good opportunity to try to get a bit of rest yourself.
For further information on your little ones sleep patterns in the first few weeks, click here https://www.nhs.uk/ŌĆ”/pregnancy-and-bŌĆ” /getting-baby-to-sleep/
See More

Its the start of the National campaign 'Dry January'
Drinking alcohol in pregnancy You don't have to stop having fun now you're pregnant - but there are a few things you'll have to give up or cut to almost zero. Alcohol is one of these things, because it can damage your growing baby.
... Most women give alcohol up completely in pregnancy because this is the safest way. When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby. There is no known safe level for drinking during pregnancy, so the safest approach is not to drink at all while you're pregnant and if you are trying for a baby.
It is particularly advised not to drink alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy as this is a time of huge growth and development.
If you do decide to drink, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol in the first three months and thereafter limit yourself to no more than one or two units, not more than once or twice a week.
for further information, have a look at the Tommy's website by clicking on the link
https://www.tommys.org/ŌĆ”/im-pregŌĆ”/dri nking-alcohol-pregnancy
See More

Here at CBC, we are open as usual, hoping we get to see in the New Year with a new arrival

I feel that the most sacred day you will ever experience is the day you meet your baby earthside and birth both them and yourself as a mother, either as mother of one, two three or more. So what choices will you make to honour this day and yourself? How will you not merely 'get through it' but get the most out of your birth experience? It's sacred and beautiful yes but it can also feel very big and overwhelming at times, how to navigate this experience in a way that is best f...or YOU? Have you considered how hiring a birth doula could help you create and nurture your wonderful birth experience? I am currently taking bookings for 2019. May has been booked by one wonderful couple. get in touch if you would like to know more. I would love to hear from you ŌØż’ĖÅ www.thebirthgem.co.uk contact@thebirthgem.co.uk Birth Gem - Doula
See More

Have you had maternity care with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust this includes Maidstone and Crowborough Birthing centres and home births. We would love to hear your views on choice in pregnancy and birth. If you booked to have your baby with us from March 2017, please click on the survey link below it should take no more than 15 mins to complete and is completely anonymous. In order to continue to improve our service we highly value your feedback. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is one of seven sites taking part in the NHS England led Maternity review which will help shape the future of maternity services. Your opinion matters. http://survey.sqw.co.uk/s/WHAM_MaternityC are/ The survey will remain open until 14th January 2019

What a beautiful start to the morning... Breastfeeding drop in is on this morning at 10am, so if you, or anyone you know would like some support please do come & see us X

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas, from all of us here at CBC xx

It's the lead up to Christmas & we would love to hear your stories if you have birthed with us over a Christmas or New Year xIt's the lead up to Christmas & we would love to hear your stories if you have birthed with us over a Christmas or New Year x

Have you had maternity care with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust this includes Maidstone and Crowborough Birthing centres and home births. We would love to hear your views on choice in pregnancy and birth. If you booked to have your baby with us from March 2017, please click on the survey link below it should take no more than 15 mins to complete and is completely anonymous. In order to continue to improve our service we highly value your feedback. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is one of seven sites taking part in the NHS England led Maternity review which will help shape the future of maternity services. Your opinion matters. http://survey.sqw.co.uk/s/WHAM_MaternityC are/ The survey will remain open until 14th January 2019

I found this lovely recipe online & as today is Sangria Day, I though this would give many women a nice non-alcoholic drink to enjoy this winter. Its also good for you too ­¤śŖ
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mock- mulled-wine
https://www.foxnews.com/ŌĆ”/10-super-food s-for-a-healthy-pregŌĆ”
... https://medicine.wustl.edu/ŌĆ”/pomegranat e-juice-may-preventŌĆ”/
See More

Weekly update 3 Very exciting! We have a floor, the wet room is coming together & the new birth pool has arrived!! ­¤æÅ­¤æÅ­¤æÅ­¤æÅ­¤æÅ Some paint has started to go on the walls too, what do you think of the pretty blue colour?? **please remember we will remain open during this time & disruption is being kept to a minimum**

As part of our ongoing refurbishment, the Friends of Crowborough Hospital have started fundraising for some extra equipment & items that we can use within the unit. If you would like to donate any amount, we would be very thankful. The link is below, you also have the option to gift aid your donation as well. Please when it asks you for your name & a message, could you copy & paste "this donation is towards the Crowborough Birth Centre refurbishment", so that the donation is then allocated to us. I have added pictures as examples of what we are aiming to buy, to make the unit even more inviting ­¤śŖ
https://mydonate.bt.com/charitŌĆ”/friends ofcrowboroughhospital

Have you had maternity care with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust this includes Maidstone and Crowborough Birthing centres and home births. We would love to hear your views on choice in pregnancy and birth. If you booked to have your baby with us from March 2017, please click on the survey link below it should take no more than 15 mins to complete and is completely anonymous. In order to continue to improve our service we highly value your feedback. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is one of seven sites taking part in the NHS England led Maternity review which will help shape the future of maternity services. Your opinion matters. http://survey.sqw.co.uk/s/WHAM_MaternityC are/ The survey will remain open until 14th January 2019

Its Christmas Jumper Day We struggled to find an image of a baby wearing a christmas jumper, this was the best we could come up with, so show us some gorgeous piccies of your little ones instead

Pampers have this year joined with Paloma Faith to release the Christmas single celebrating & thanking midwives for their hard work. For every download brought theyŌĆÖre donating ┬Ż1 to the Midwives Benevolence Fund & for every 1000 shares with the hashtag #thankyoumidwife theyŌĆÖre contributing to the updating & renovating of midwives staff rooms across the country ­¤śŖ­¤śŖ­¤śŖ­¤Æ¢­¤Æ¢
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8gddW_EpAP0

https://www.instagram.com/p/BrQ6b2Snvxm/Ō Ć”

We had to have our little girl at Pembury but had all after care at crowborough and they were incredible! So kind and helpful, after no sleep for three days it was just what we needed! We all rested for a night knowing we had all the support and care we needed. They are incredible! Everything is so relaxed and welcoming, we are very lucky such an amazing facility so close

Kisses from Mila Rose Cooke to all the amazing ladies at Crowborough Birthing Centre...

You not only made Mila's entrance into the world an incredible experience for both Charlie & I, but made the following 2 nights and 2 days extra special helping us learn how to be the best little family we can be in a beautiful setting.



We will be forever grateful to all of you.. for everything!



First night in our own home done! ’┐Į’┐Į

I'm so glad we made the decision to go the Crowborough birthing centre. We couldn't fault it at all, it's an amazing facility and we should do all we can to keep places like this running. I delivered my first baby 8 days ago over the bank holiday weekend and we were lucky enough to be the only people in there. The care was fantastic in every way. From the midwives and student midwives, to the aftercare and help / support that we received at the push of a button. And thanks to the brilliant staff, I was able to do the whole thing completely pain free. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's thinking about going there. Thank you! X

I would like to say a massive massive thank you to Becky and Kathryn for supporting me in my planned home birth last night.

After a highly unpleasant hospital experience resulting in forceps and third degree tears with my first baby I was determined that this time would be different and really wanted to be at home in a relaxed environment.

IŌĆÖm so grateful to Becky for being so supportive and calm despite arriving to a rather more advanced situation than was expected! Thank you so much for keeping me focused and helping me achieve what I wanted, it could not have been a more different experience and IŌĆÖm so happy I stuck to my wishes.

I was so sad to have not been able to have my first but having my second there a year later more than made up for it!

It was truly amazing to be able to have a waterbirth in homely surroundings with such lovely midwives by your side!

Kay is probably my favourite thing about the centre, so knowledgable and would literally do anything and everything for you.

You're all amazing and I would recommend the centre to anyone wanting to have their baby in a relaxed and homely environment! Xxx

I love CBC! I had both of my children at here and I loved it both times! My first was born in 2015 and I was adamant I didn't want any pain relief or anything so I wanted to go to crowborough. It was the best decision I made. I loved it. The midwife & the trainee that I had in with me were amazing and so lovely. I had my second 3 weeks ago at crowborough and my labour could not have been any more different to my first but it was amazing! Nice and calm and quick! I gave birth in the water which is what I wanted and the midwifes were amazing again! They all make you feel at home! Big shout out to Kay as well! The volunteer who gets the tea and toast! She was so lovely and always offering tea and toast! If you are debating having your child here, don't! It's amazing and if I ever have anymore (I don't plan to) I will for sure be coming here! Thankyou CBC! ’┐Į

I had my daughter Am├©lie here on 13th Feb 2018 ..... as soon as we arrived we were well looked after ..... i mean ..... like royalty, the pool was set up very quickly and tea and toast was served pool side...... this was my partners first child and my second they staff were just amazing with keeping my dignity and seeing to my partners needs helping him to care for our newborn ..... i had loads of help and advice with breast feeding when i asked for it....... cannot fault any part of our stay here amazing staff thank you so much again.

I gave birth here on 7/12/17 (and previously in July 2015). CBC is an incredible place. The midwives are so experienced and you feel like you are in safe hands from the moment you step inside. I immediately relaxed with the dimmed lights and peaceful surroundings which is so important. I had one amazing midwife (Karen) who stayed with me and saw me through labour (whereas on a false alarm when we ended up at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, I saw 5 people in 4 hours). I have very fast and unpredictable labours and I was listened to and my instincts about my body were trusted and believed. The moment I asked for gas and air, it was brought in. The care and compassion of every midwife and maternity assistant who looked after me was way beyond the call of duty - CBC really is a very special place. The after care, nurture and advice on breast feeding, safe co-sleeping, maternal recovery and practical care for the baby is brilliant from Mel. Midwives popped in regularly to check I was ok - many of the same team who looked after me and my second baby in 2015 were here in Dec 2017 and that familiarity felt so good. In fact Karen delivered both my CBC babies! One midwife Chloe even sat with me through 2 hours of the night when I was up feeding and we just chatted and Tracey cuddled my baby while I showered when I asked for help because I didn't want him to be put down and alone...the whole of you and the baby is nurtured and cared for here. CBC is not just somewhere to give birth, it's a wonderful place where my second and third babies had the best start to life and I began my post-natal recovery cocooned in a bubble and surrounded by professionals who love their jobs and are simply fabulous. Thank you so much to CBC.

I donŌĆÖt know where to begin in thanking the amazing midwives at Crowborough birthing centre. I had my first baby here on 18/12/17. From the moment we walked through the door to the moment we left we were well cared for. I was so pleased I was able to have my son here naturally, I was unable to have the water birth like I wanted as being in the water slower my contractions down but every step of the way they were there to help. If I were to have had my baby in hospital they would have definitely intervened but at Crowborough they used the old fashioned ways to help me get him out and without their support thereŌĆÖs no way I could have done it naturally. I canŌĆÖt recommend Crowborough enough if youŌĆÖre thinking of having your baby there. A few people questioned about me having my first baby there but IŌĆÖm so glad I stuck to my guns and went for it. It really is a home from home. Thank you so much. Kirsty, Craig and Mickey xxx

We had to have our little girl at Pembury but had all after care at crowborough and they were incredible! So kind and helpful, after no sleep for three days it was just what we needed! We all rested for a night knowing we had all the support and care we needed. They are incredible! Everything is so relaxed and welcoming, we are very lucky such an amazing facility so close

Kisses from Mila Rose Cooke to all the amazing ladies at Crowborough Birthing Centre...

You not only made Mila's entrance into the world an incredible experience for both Charlie & I, but made the following 2 nights and 2 days extra special helping us learn how to be the best little family we can be in a beautiful setting.



We will be forever grateful to all of you.. for everything!



First night in our own home done! ’┐Į’┐Į

I'm so glad we made the decision to go the Crowborough birthing centre. We couldn't fault it at all, it's an amazing facility and we should do all we can to keep places like this running. I delivered my first baby 8 days ago over the bank holiday weekend and we were lucky enough to be the only people in there. The care was fantastic in every way. From the midwives and student midwives, to the aftercare and help / support that we received at the push of a button. And thanks to the brilliant staff, I was able to do the whole thing completely pain free. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's thinking about going there. Thank you! X

I would like to say a massive massive thank you to Becky and Kathryn for supporting me in my planned home birth last night.

After a highly unpleasant hospital experience resulting in forceps and third degree tears with my first baby I was determined that this time would be different and really wanted to be at home in a relaxed environment.

IŌĆÖm so grateful to Becky for being so supportive and calm despite arriving to a rather more advanced situation than was expected! Thank you so much for keeping me focused and helping me achieve what I wanted, it could not have been a more different experience and IŌĆÖm so happy I stuck to my wishes.

I was so sad to have not been able to have my first but having my second there a year later more than made up for it!

It was truly amazing to be able to have a waterbirth in homely surroundings with such lovely midwives by your side!

Kay is probably my favourite thing about the centre, so knowledgable and would literally do anything and everything for you.

You're all amazing and I would recommend the centre to anyone wanting to have their baby in a relaxed and homely environment! Xxx

I love CBC! I had both of my children at here and I loved it both times! My first was born in 2015 and I was adamant I didn't want any pain relief or anything so I wanted to go to crowborough. It was the best decision I made. I loved it. The midwife & the trainee that I had in with me were amazing and so lovely. I had my second 3 weeks ago at crowborough and my labour could not have been any more different to my first but it was amazing! Nice and calm and quick! I gave birth in the water which is what I wanted and the midwifes were amazing again! They all make you feel at home! Big shout out to Kay as well! The volunteer who gets the tea and toast! She was so lovely and always offering tea and toast! If you are debating having your child here, don't! It's amazing and if I ever have anymore (I don't plan to) I will for sure be coming here! Thankyou CBC! ’┐Į

I had my daughter Am├©lie here on 13th Feb 2018 ..... as soon as we arrived we were well looked after ..... i mean ..... like royalty, the pool was set up very quickly and tea and toast was served pool side...... this was my partners first child and my second they staff were just amazing with keeping my dignity and seeing to my partners needs helping him to care for our newborn ..... i had loads of help and advice with breast feeding when i asked for it....... cannot fault any part of our stay here amazing staff thank you so much again.

I gave birth here on 7/12/17 (and previously in July 2015). CBC is an incredible place. The midwives are so experienced and you feel like you are in safe hands from the moment you step inside. I immediately relaxed with the dimmed lights and peaceful surroundings which is so important. I had one amazing midwife (Karen) who stayed with me and saw me through labour (whereas on a false alarm when we ended up at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, I saw 5 people in 4 hours). I have very fast and unpredictable labours and I was listened to and my instincts about my body were trusted and believed. The moment I asked for gas and air, it was brought in. The care and compassion of every midwife and maternity assistant who looked after me was way beyond the call of duty - CBC really is a very special place. The after care, nurture and advice on breast feeding, safe co-sleeping, maternal recovery and practical care for the baby is brilliant from Mel. Midwives popped in regularly to check I was ok - many of the same team who looked after me and my second baby in 2015 were here in Dec 2017 and that familiarity felt so good. In fact Karen delivered both my CBC babies! One midwife Chloe even sat with me through 2 hours of the night when I was up feeding and we just chatted and Tracey cuddled my baby while I showered when I asked for help because I didn't want him to be put down and alone...the whole of you and the baby is nurtured and cared for here. CBC is not just somewhere to give birth, it's a wonderful place where my second and third babies had the best start to life and I began my post-natal recovery cocooned in a bubble and surrounded by professionals who love their jobs and are simply fabulous. Thank you so much to CBC.

I donŌĆÖt know where to begin in thanking the amazing midwives at Crowborough birthing centre. I had my first baby here on 18/12/17. From the moment we walked through the door to the moment we left we were well cared for. I was so pleased I was able to have my son here naturally, I was unable to have the water birth like I wanted as being in the water slower my contractions down but every step of the way they were there to help. If I were to have had my baby in hospital they would have definitely intervened but at Crowborough they used the old fashioned ways to help me get him out and without their support thereŌĆÖs no way I could have done it naturally. I canŌĆÖt recommend Crowborough enough if youŌĆÖre thinking of having your baby there. A few people questioned about me having my first baby there but IŌĆÖm so glad I stuck to my guns and went for it. It really is a home from home. Thank you so much. Kirsty, Craig and Mickey xxx