Myleene adds a touch of Klass to launch of birthing pool

The musician, TV and radio presenter, is the mother of two young daughters, Ava and Hero Harper and the author of a candid pregnancy diary which became a national bestseller.

The Maternity Unit at Leeds General Infirmary is one of the biggest in Yorkshire, seeing around 5,000 births a year – which averages out at between 12 and 15 births every day. It is one of two such units in Leeds, working closely with its sister facility at nearby St James’s University Hospital.

Interest in the option of a water birth is growing and health chiefs say the new pool is a major improvement particularly as it is deep enough for women to float in if they wish to.

Coral Morby, a midwife at Leeds General Infirmary said last night: “Midwives at the hospital have been very keen to improve facilities for water births and we have been fundraising hard for some time to help pay for the new facility. Combined with some recent sponsorship this has made it possible to install the pool sooner than we planned and to create a really attractive environment with lighting which isn’t like a hospital room at all.

“Since it was installed the reaction has been very positive from everyone who has seen it. Many women use the pool to labour in as it is an effective form of natural pain relief, so we are expecting it to prove very popular.”