The East of England’s newest birth centre opens next week.

Rosie Birth Centre, based at Addenbrookes in Cambridge, is part of the brand-new, three-storey Rosie Hospital expansion, and provides continuous one-to-one midwifery-led care for women when they are in active labour.

It officially opens on Monday, September 3.

It has been designed for women who have not had any complications during pregnancy and are expecting to have a normal birth.

Jan Butler, the Rosie’s consultant midwife, said:

“All the research shows that labour is easier when the mother is properly supported and is able to relax in an environment that is as home-like as possible. This enables her contractions to work efficiently and her body to release the hormones which provide some natural pain relief.

“We know that the majority of women can labour and birth with minimal or no intervention and that many pregnancies are normal, without complications or cause for concern. In these circumstances, many women feel that there is no need to be in a hospital environment and prefer to have their baby in a birthing centre.”

If the midwife has any concerns, the mother requires an epidural or her labour becomes complicated then she will be transferred to the care of an obstetrician and midwifery team in the delivery unit on the storey above.

The Big Push for the Rosie campaign is aiming to raise �150,000 from the community, some of which will be spent on bedding for the new birth centre. Over the past nine months, local people have raised nearly �100,000.

Trudy Harper, community fundraising manager at ACT, the dedicated charity for

Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to everyone that has bought a wristband, dropped some coins in a collection tin or organised a fundraising event. With the extension now open we’re pushing on with our appeal and hope that the people of Cambridge will continue to support our efforts and help us hit our target.”

Pregnant women who would like more information about Rosie Birth Centre should speak to their community midwife or visit cuh.org.uk/rosiebirthcentre. To find out more about the Big Push for the Rosie, visit therosiecampaign.org.uk or call 01223 217757.