Pioneering research to protect the health of mothers and their babies is being carried out at Medway Maritime Hospital.

One of the studies is looking at the effects of baby cooling, a procedure which reduces the likelihood of brain damage in babies born with a lack of oxygen or blood.

Joanna Martin agreed to be a part of the study when her daughter was having life threatening seizures at birth due to an unexpected lack of oxygen and blood supply to the brain.

She said: “It was terrifying seeing my baby going through seizures. The doctors asked for my consent to have the baby-cooling research take place. I agreed immediately.

“The speed in which they had her in the baby cooling suite was incredible. She is now a very happy and healthy two-year-old and that’s down to the research done here by Dr Soe and his team.”

The research is being carried out in the maternity and neonatal units, and it is also one of five sites in the country taking part in a study to reduce the chances of pre-eclampsia. The condition can lead to serious complications and one early sign is having high blood pressure.

Women who are high-risk are being given a low dose of aspirin before they reach 16 weeks, and it may lead to a 50% reduction in pre-eclampsia.

Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, was shown the research projects by Dr Ranjit Akolekar and Dr Aung Soe, two leading experts in fetal and neonatal medicine.

Ms Tolhurst said: “It’s fantastic that important research projects such as the incredible ones I’ve seen on the maternity and neonatal unit are happening here at Medway. Meeting the doctors and witnessing the important, life-saving research they are doing has been wonderful.”

Earlier this year, a breakthrough test for women to find out if their baby has Down’s syndrome was also pioneered at the hospital.

Matron Louise Proffitt said: “This research has the potential to change practice and safeguard mums and babies across the country.”

The trust is undertaking 170 research projects ranging from testing new drugs to trialling new medical procedures, with almost 6,000 patients taking part last year.