Mum is the word for five midwives

Midwife Lucy Atkins with Percy; midwife Sarah Banks with Ellie; healthcare assistant Kirsty Barcock with Ella, midwife Jenny Fogg with Oscar and Cathryn Parkinson with William

Attending a special belated baby shower with the hospital’s birthing centre, the five – Lucy Atkins, Sarah Banks, Kirsty Barcock, Jenny Fogg and Cathryn Parkinson – were amazed when they all found out they were pregnant around the same time.

Their babies, Ella, Oscar, Percy, Ellie and William, were all born between January and March, before their due date.

Midwife and Garstang resident Lucy Atkins, mum of Percy, who was born at Royal Lancaster Infirmary on February 4 weighing 8lb 5oz, said: “Some of us are first time mums and a couple are second timers.

“It was funny to see us all wobbling around at the same time. The techniques we use with our patients we used ourselves as it has been really drummed in and it now being mums ourselves makes understanding what our patients are going through much better.

“Strangely, all of us used to sit on the same recycling bin at our handover between shifts. Everyone’s avoided it since!

Kirsty, 22, from Fleetwood, gave birth to Ella at the Vic on March 1. She weighed seven pounds. “It was a special experience knowing that if I had any worries, the staff would be able to take care of me,” Kirsty told The Gazette.

Jenny, 27, from Penwortham, had 9lb 3oz Oscar in the Vic’s birthing centre on January 18, and said: “I drove all the way from Preston to Blackpool to have my baby as I wouldn’t want to be looked after by anyone else.”

Sarah, 29, from Leyland, gave birth to Ellie, who weighed eight pounds, at Chorley Hospital on February 8.

And Cathryn, 29, from Kirkham, had to give birth to William on a Vic ward as she didn’t make it to the birthing centre in time! He was born on February 13 and weighed in at 7lb 11oz.

Nicola Parry, the associate director of nursing (midwifery), said: “I am delighted to see all the babies and mums return for a belated baby shower. The chances of five members of staff being pregnant all at the same time is quite unusual for our maternity unit. It’s lovely to see a tight knit supportive team together celebrating the births with their babies.”