Helme Chase Midwife Led Unit, Burton Road, Kendal, LA9 7RG

Telephone: 01539 795375

Helme Chase is an isolated midwife led unit 23miles from the nearest consultant unit (Lancaster). It opened in 2001 and since then approximately 300 babies per year have been born here. We specialise in waterbirths and other forms of active birth, encouraging women to have normal physiological births without the need for intervention.

Our statistics for 2005 are:-

Births291
Land births132
Water births140
Home births19
Transfers in labour77

The atmosphere not only in the labour rooms but throughout the unit reflects the philosophy that birth, bonding and breastfeeding are normal family events which need a positive supportive environment. You will immediately feel the difference.

Our Home from Home room opened in 2002 further encourages active normal birth and provides a relaxed cosy environment, with a spacious luxury bathroom for women to labour, give birth and spend the first 12 hours postnatal with their baby and partner. It also provides us with a second pool for water births.

Our Day room has large family size settees and a large dining table where meals are served.

After the birth women can spend a couple of days in the friendly postnatal rooms supported by midwives and maternity assistants. Women also transfer back from the consultant unit after more complicated births, in order to relax and recover before going home. We have 4 baths and 3 showers between a maximum of 13 women.

This page has been written for BirthChoiceUK by Helme Chase Midwife Led Unit.