On Wednesday 18 February 2026, parents Vicky Kelly and Alfie Morgan-Swallow from Knaphill, welcomed the birth of their third child, a healthy baby boy named Freddie - the 5,000th baby to be born in the Abbey Birth Centre at St Peter’s Hospital.
To mark the occasion, Dr Benedicta Agbagwara-Osuji, Director of Midwifery, presented Vicky and Alfie with a gift hamper containing items such as a baby grow and cuddly toy for baby, and chocolates and soaps for mum and dad.
Reflecting on their experience, Vicky and Alfie described the care they received as “amazing”. “From the minute we walked in, the staff were brilliant,” they said. Having had their previous two children on the Labour Ward at St Peter’s, they described their experience this time round as “relaxing”, with “tailored one-on-one support” from the midwives in the birth centre.
The Abbey Birth Centre first opened in 2014 and offers a ‘home from home’ environment for women who have uncomplicated pregnancies and want to give birth in a less clinical setting. Run entirely by an experienced team of midwives, the centre provides personalised, one to one care and facilities including spacious birthing rooms with birthing pools. Many families choose the centre for its calm atmosphere and focus on personalised care.
Dr Benedicta Agbagwara-Osuji, Director of Midwifery at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said “Welcoming the 5,000th baby into the Abbey Birth Centre is a wonderful milestone for our team and our community. We are privileged to support families at such an important moment in their lives, and I’m incredibly proud of the personalised, compassionate care our midwives provide every single day.”
For more information about the Abbey Birth Centre and maternity services at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals, visit: www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/maternity
