Royal Preston Hospital’s maternity unit has celebrated its six-month anniversary of Team Blossom.
Team Blossom, made up of midwives Linda Hodkinson, Sophie Barnes and maternity support worker Michelle Butterworth, launched to provide care for young mums and mums-to-be.
Providing support for Preston, Chorley and South Ribble’s parents aged up to 19-years-old, the charity is funded by the mums and babies charity Baby Beat through a grant of just under £200,000.
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The unique service ensures every couple has a midwife to look after them from their first appointment, check-ups, birth and post-birth.
Rebecca Arestidou, who is Baby Beat’s trust, grant, fundraising impact and project officer and worked to help to secure the funding, said: “Between 130 and 140 women under the age of 20 from the Preston area give birth annually.
“Team Blossom is about helping to make their and their partners’ experience of pregnancy, birth and looking after a newborn as positive as possible to give their babies the best start in life.
“Already, the rates for missed check-ups and appointments among the maternity unit’s youngest mums-to-be have dropped significantly, while their breastfeeding rates have increased significantly. In such a short time, Team Blossom has made a huge impact.”
Celebrated with a party held at Ribbleton Family Hub, new parents and parents-to-be were welcomed with refreshments and a Baby Beat goodie bag.
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