Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 29 September 2017

  1. Your questions: How do you become a midwife?published at 19:00 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    You have been sending in your questions about life on the ward.

    Here is consultant midwife Helen Smith's guide to becoming a midwife.

    After gaining three A-Levels or the equivalent you need to apply for a midwifery course at university.

    "It's a three-year course where you will do academic and practical work to learn about all the different aspects of this fabulous job," she said.

    The UCAS, external and Royal College of Midwives, external websites have useful information.

  2. Baby Logan meets his extended familypublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Phil Shepka
    BBC News

    I've just been back to see the Bulmer family - Emma, Aidan and little Logan - and it's safe to say everyone is in really high spirits.

    Logan

    Grandpa, nanny and auntie are all around coo-ing around the baby and the parents are taking it all in.

    Emma said she was "surprised" by how fast the birth was, made all the quicker as Logan had turned back into the right position.

    Aidan is still taking in the size of his newborn - "he's a chunk" - while Nanny Fran claims there'll be an "almighty party come Saturday". Wish we could be there for that...

  3. How are most babies born in Ipswich?published at 18:24 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Data pic
  4. Your questions: How long is a shift on the ward?published at 18:22 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    We have been putting your questions about life on the ward to staff and you wanted to know about their shifts.

    Consultant midwife Helen Smith said shifts in the birthing areas are mostly 12 hours.

    "Some of our staff that work in clinic will work a more regular day," she said.

    "We work days, nights, weekends, Christmas. It's a 24/7 service."

  5. Baby Logan gets weighedpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Phil Shepka
    BBC News

    News just in... Baby Logan, who has just been born via a planned C-section here at Ipswich Hospital, weighed 7lb 12oz.

    I was in the room for the entire operation, so stand by for some videos, but here's a photo of the Bulmer family with their new addition in the meantime. New parents Emma and Aiden are over the moon.

    Bulmer

    And here's another one with midwife Emily and surgeon Dr Deole, who helped deliver little Logan. What an experience!

    team
  6. Baby Logan born via planned C-sectionpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    We've got some lovely news to bring you! Emma and Aiden, who we told you about earlier, have just had a little boy and they are calling him Logan. The C-section all went to plan and he's doing really well.

    He hasn't been weighed yet but we will let you know as soon as we've got the all important weight!

    Logan
  7. It's nearly time for mum-to-be Emma to meet her babypublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

  8. Emma Bulmer's sister-in-law awaits baby's arrivalpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Laura Phee waits on the ward for her nephew to be born

  9. Mum-to-be Emma Bulmer goes down to theatrepublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Emma Bulmer gets the lift - with an empty cot, which is about to be filled with a baby

  10. Chaplain's role is an 'amazing privilege'published at 16:53 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Kate Scotter
    BBC News

    We've just had a chat with the Rev Mandy Reynolds, one of the hospital chaplains.

    The chaplaincy service is available to all patients, members of staff and families, whether they have faith or not.

    Ms Reynolds, who has been in the role for 18 months, said it is "privileged" post to hold.

    Mandy Reynolds

    The former army chaplain, who works in the neonatal, maternity, children's and gynaecology wards, said: "We are often there when someone is at their most frightened or vulnerable, at their most joyful and at some of their lowest times.

    "It's an enormous responsibility but an amazing privilege."

  11. C-section mum prepares for operationpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Emma Bulmer gets ready to meet her baby boy, who is breech

  12. Two births on high risk wardpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    We've just heard about two babies who have been born on the fourth floor here at Ipswich hospital.

    The fourth floor is where women who are at high risk of having complications go to give birth. We've been told that both babies are healthy and we'll bring you more details as soon as we have them.

  13. Mum-to-be taken to theatre for C-sectionpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    emma

    Earlier we told you about Emma Bulmer from Hadleigh who is having a planned C-section.

    She was third on the list to have the operation this afternoon and she's just gone into theatre, a bit earlier than expected.

    Our reporter Phil Shepka is going to be in the operating room too so we'll bring you another update as soon as we have it.

    Phil
    Image caption,

    Our reporter Phil Shepka

  14. Hospital gives couples fertility treatment choicepublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Kate Scotter
    BBC News

    More than 100 patients have been treated since fertility treatment became available on the NHS at Ipswich Hospital.

    Djavid Alleemudder

    The hospital offers satellite assisted contraception technique invitro fertilisation, IVF, to both NHS and self-funded patients who qualify for the treatment.

    NHS patients will be offered IVF after they have been trying for at least three years, unless they have a specific condition which means they be offered the treatment sooner.

    NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group decided to continue to fund two rounds of IVF to qualifying couples last year.

    Fertility consultant Djavid Alleemudder said: "It offers locality of treatment where otherwise patients would've had to have gone further afield for it."

    He said the the success rate is 30% to 40% which is comparable to the other success rate at other fertility units.

    The satellite hospitals are Guy's and St Thomas's in London for NHS patients and Addenbrooke's in Cambridge for self-funded patients.

    Ipswich Hospital holds open days for couples to find out more. The next one is on 29 November.

  15. 'I really wanted to be able to breast feed'published at 15:42 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Kate and Reece Monk, both aged 28, are getting used to being parents after the birth of their son, Arthur, at 15:33 on Tuesday.

    Kate had a Caesarean section after learning during her pregnancy that her baby had a heart condition.

    "Everything went well and Arthur is doing well," she said.

    Kate and Reece Monk

    "Because we had a C-section I really wanted to be able to breast feed and it's going really well so far, which is great."

    The couple plan to go home later tonight.

  16. Baby number two of the daypublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    We told you earlier that the second baby of the day had arrived at Ipswich Hospital.

    We've been told the mother and baby girl are doing well and getting a well-deserved rest. We will try to grab a word with them later.

    So 14 hours in and only two babies so far. Is this an unusually quiet day?

    "It's early days is what I would say," says Helen Smith, consultant midwife.

    It's hard to say what a normal day is at Ipswich Hospital in terms of births but Helen says between eight and 13 babies a day would be a typical figure.

  17. Fertility treatment - the help that is availablepublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Phil Shepka
    BBC News

    About one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving - approximately 3.5 million people in the UK. So what avenues are open for them to begin a journey to the maternity ward?

    The most popular treatment is the assisted contraception technique in-vitro fertilisation. That's IVF to you and I.

    IVFImage source, Science Photo Library

    During IVF, an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory.

    The fertilised egg, called an embryo, is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.

    Ipswich Hospital, where we are at today, offers this treatment in partnership with Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

    The only requirement is that patients need to travel to Cambridge for egg collection and embryo transfer.

  18. Colouring book fails to pass the time for expectant mum Emmapublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    We've just been back to see Emma Bulmer, who's waiting to have a C-section.

    She's spent the afternoon passing the time and is now in her hospital gown and surgical stockings ready to go to theatre.

    Emma Bulmer

    Husband Aiden said he bought a colouring book for Emma in the hope of making the time go faster, although it doesn't look like it's been a huge hit so far.

    Colouring book
  19. Seeing is believing: 3D and 4D baby scanspublished at 13:39 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Expectant mums and dads can see lifelike images of their baby moving in the womb at Ipswich Hospital.

    3 and 4D imaging at Ipswich HospitalImage source, Ipswich Hospital

    The hospital offers a three and four-dimensional imaging service, external.

    It said it gives parents-to-be the chance to see their baby's face and features in much more detail than a traditional 2D ultrasound.

    The scan can capture static photographs as well as moving images of them smiling, yawning or sucking their thumb.

    Ipswich became the first hospital in Suffolk and Norfolk to offer the scans in February. It charges £150 for the service, performed at 26 to 32 weeks.

  20. Woolfenden signs new Ipswich contractpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 27 September 2017

    Ipswich Town defender Luke Woolfenden signs a new two-year deal to 2019, with an option for the further 12 months.

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