Blackburn Birth Centre

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

Lovely birth story sent to us from a family that welcomed their newborn baby on the 12th July here at Blackburn Birth Centre

My third baby was due at the beginning of July and I was hoping for a water birth at Blackburn Birth Centre.

I was supported in my decision to decline a sweep at my appointment at 40+5, trusting that my body had gone into spontaneous labour twice before but I was starting to feel disheartened with every day that went by and desperate to meet our baby. My next appointment was booked for 41+5 and I was really hoping not to get there so doing everything I could to increase oxytocin and go into labour naturally.

On the Saturday I hit 41 weeks - it was a beautiful sunny day and we spent it in the garden with my daughters playing in the paddling pool, and saw my sister and her family for a few hours at our local cricket club before bedtime. When we got home I was having a rest as my husband put the girls to bed and started to get some cramping but didn't want to get my hopes up too high as I'd had regular Braxton hicks from 33 weeks.

Thankfully regular contractions ramped up pretty quickly and 8.30pm we were confident that something was happening so we phoned triage at Blackburn Birth Centre to let them know. We confirmed we were happy to stay at home until things were more intense and the midwife we spoke to was really supportive and encouraged me to trust my body and instinct to know when it was time to head in. I used a tens machine at home and was most comfortable standing and swaying through my contractions in the garden. We called BBC back at 10.30pm to let them know that things had really rammed up and that we were going to head in... thankfully the roads were dead as England were playing in the World Cup that night!

We arrived at 11.15pm and I was completely delighted to see my community midwife Louise who happened to be on call that weekend. I immediately felt so at ease and happy knowing she would be looking after me. Louise led us straight to a room which was beautifully set up and the birth pool was being run for me and we met our other midwife Stephanie. The whole birth centre was so dark and quiet and calm. We were the only couple there and I was so happy to be there to deliver our baby.

Louise asked to do a vaginal examination to see where we were at and I was relieved when she said I was 5cm. I was able to get straight in the pool and continued to labour in there. Getting into the warm water felt amazing. Louise and Steph were a constant reassuring presence but they stayed as hands off as possible, allowing me to do my own thing and the room felt so quiet and calm. Despite an initial lull in contractions when I got in the pool, everything built again quickly and before long the urge to push kicked in.

After 50 mins of pushing with calm encouragement and guidance from Louise my little boy was born in the water at 1.06am. It was such a magical moment and I felt so relieved, proud and strong. We had immediate skin to skin and delayed cord clamping before we got out of the pool to deliver the placenta on the bed wrapped in warm towels. Baby latched for his first feed and we were left to a few quiet hours just the three of us. Later after tea and toast Louise helped me to shower before we moved to the postnatal room which has a double bed so that my husband could get some sleep with me. We were discharged by 10am the next morning.

I can't speak highly enough of Blackburn Birth Centre and the midwives who looked after us throughout my pregnancy, during delivery and postnatally. I will always be so grateful for the brilliant care we received in a home from home environment.❤

06/08/2026

🩵It’s always a privilege to be apart of your journey. Here’s some recent feedback we’d like to share with you…💗

“My experience at Blackburn Birth centre was amazing overall, I came off the phone to triage around 4:30am and the birth Cente was open and ready for me to arrive at 05:10am.

I was met by the same midwife that had done my sweep the day before and to say that I had such a fast labour I felt supported and encouraged throughout, my baby was born just after 6am.

The Birth Centre itself is beautiful and I would encourage anyone not to be put off by the on call system as the care I received was amazing”

28/07/2026

If you have had your baby at Blackburn Birth Centre using the new on call system (since 1st July 2026) and are happy to share your birth story please do message us❤️

12/07/2026

End of an era, my last day at BBC 🥺 I have been incredibly lucky to have worked with the most amazing colleagues over the last 12 years, some of who I’m now lucky to have as friends. I have loved caring for so many lovely families and BBC will always hold a special place in my heart ❤️

02/07/2026

Amazing feedback from the first family to have their baby girl at Blackburn birth centre since the move to the on call system and on the first night as well ❤️

"My labour started around 1/1:30am so I called up triage as we wanted to attend Blackburn birth centre. Jenny called to say I could make my way over where we were greated by Jenny and Hannah they made us feel welcome and that we were in safe, caring hands. The staff couldn't do enough for us all, we also felt this way with Ana and Nusaybah when they switched over and the student midwife Zoe was amazing with us and very professional. We can't thank you all enough for opening up for us and having the privilege to be the first family to access the on call service.
Thank you very much
Love Chantelle (mum), Stevie (dad), Sharon (nana) and baby girl Eva"

Birth story and photo shared with consent x

01/07/2026

The hot water is now back up and running, if you are booked to have your baby at Blackburn Birth Centre please ring us on 01254 733434 if you feel you are in labour