New birthing pool at St James Hospital

St James Hospital, Sliema, yesterday launched its new birthing pool within the Maternity Unit. The unit was officially inaugurated by the hospital's director, Dr Josie Muscat, and blessed by Fr Joe Farrugia.

"Giving birth in water has many advantages," Dr Muscat explained. "The mother's body is free to move around, as opposed to when she is lying on a bed. In water, the body feels weightless and the pain is less."

The birthing pool completes the Maternity Unit which already offers the perfect environment for a relaxed birth. This makes the hospital among a few select ones in Europe to offer a choice of natural and water births, and epidural-assisted and Caesarean deliveries.

The Maternity Unit is equipped with an obtetric theatre and state-of-the-art equipment. The unit is also equipped with comfortable and private patient rooms with en suite bathrooms, TV and telephones. A recent addition is the nursery, which complements the unit in being comfortable.

The hospital also offers a comprehensive ante-natal programme where all topics concerning pregnancy, birth, breast-feeding and infant care are tackled professionally and extensively, and a post-natal service that offers follow-up home visits by the midwife.

The event, sponsored by Vivian Corporation, exclusive marketers and distributors of the babycare and nutritional brands Chicco, Plasmon and Wyeth, also marked the first anniversary since St James expanded its services and acquired the former Capua Hospital in Sliema.

Vivian Corporation, which invests heavily in the child's education, also organised a half-day educational seminar for mothers-to be. Sex in pregnancy and post-pregnancy was tackled by Dr Isabelle Saliba, anaesthesia in labour by Dr Simon Parnis, vitamin supplementation in pregnancy by Albert Scerri, child safety by Architect Audrey Testaferrata de Noto, psychological development during the first year of life by Dr Anna Cassar, and the role of the father in pregnancy, labour and beyond by Rachel Borg.