HARD-WORKING midwives from the Vale of Leven Hospital have delivered three babies in less than 24 hours.

The rush of new arrivals for the hospital's community maternity unit began on Thursday, March 10, when Gail Russell welcomed her third baby, Melody, at 10.03am.

Next up was Kirsteen McCallion whose baby Maisie was delivered at 2.47pm.

And the team helped a third mum give birth at home at 6.33am the next day.

Marie Whalen, senior charge midwife at the unit, said: “It is always lovely to support women in their choice of birthing locally. It was a busy 24 hours for the unit but a very rewarding experience for all involved.

“We have a great team of midwives at the Vale of Leven and we all work well together. It was particularly nice that student midwives were involved.”

It was a great experience for local student midwife Niamh Dickson who was on hand to assist with the birth of Gail's baby.

Niamh is a third year student at the University of the West of Scotland and lives locally in Dumbarton.

She said: “This was my 35th birth, but my first ever water birth.

"It was also the first birth I have been at in a community maternity unit. It was all so lovely and relaxed. Gail was completely ‘in the zone’ and she and her partner Tom were great together.

“The birth process still amazes me. Each birth is special and women are so strong. As I say, this was my first water birth, so a new experience for me. It was beautiful.”

The experience was everything mum Gail Russell had dreamed of for her third – and last – experience of labour.

Gail said: “Melody is my third baby. I had always wanted to give birth at the Vale CMU but with both my boys I was well overdue, so needed to be induced at the RAH in Paisley.

“This time I went into labour myself, so I was able to have Melody there.

"It was everything I ever dreamed of – I even got the water birth I had always wanted.

"When we arrived at the Vale just after 7am I got straight into the pool and started on some gas and air. But the water really helped and I was able relax enough to stop the gas and air and labour without it.

“Niamh was absolutely fabulous; she has a lovely bedside manner and was helping and chatting tome throughout. She was so supportive.

“When Melody was born at 10.03am and I was still in the pool I was able to reach down and catch her.

"It was perfect; what I had wanted all along. It was like my body knew what to do.

"Melody is my last baby, so it is lovely that I got the birth of my dreams. It was a nice way to finish."