Care for new mums at Medway Maritime Hospital is being improved thanks to a £250,000 grant.

The Department of Health money was awarded earlier this year and now work on the unit is complete.

The delivery suite, which deals with more complex pregnancies, has been transformed into an environment similar to the hospital’s midwife-led unit, the Birth Place, which has received glowing reviews from mothers.

The changes to the suite enable women experiencing high risk pregnancies to enjoy the same relaxing surroundings as those with no problems.

Unattractive and sometimes daunting clinical equipment is now contained in cupboards to make rooms feel more homely, and other changes include fresh new colours and wall murals, de-cluttered corridors, softer lighting and en suite bathrooms in every room.

Consultant midwife and refurbishment project lead Dot Smith said: “The feedback from both midwives and mothers has been really positive.

"Acknowledgement needs to go to all the midwives who kept our delivery suite safe and operational during the building work and also the women had their babies with us during this time.”

The new unit also has birthing pools, which can monitor the baby’s heart rate while a mother is in water.

Jadi Seaman, 31, gave birth to her second child, Jude, in a birthing pool.

She said: “As I was heading to the hospital, as well as being in an extreme amount of pain I also felt somewhat excited as I had been hoping to get into The Birth Place particularly as I wasn’t able to have a water birth with my first baby and I had heard such great things about it.

“I could not have asked for a more perfect labour and birth.

My husband cut the cord in the pool and the whole moment was just perfect.”