First Lady of UHW
AROUND a quarter of a million new lives have been welcomed into the world at the University Hospital of Wales but one little bundle received a particularly special welcome.
Adrian Dudley was the first baby born at the hospital back in 1971 and was welcomed into the world by an excited staff, eager media and of course a proud mum.
Barbara Meddick, speaking as part of the hospital’s 40th birthday celebrations, was the first mum to give birth at UHW and remembers the experience well.
She said: “I was attending Glosop Terrace at the time for my ante-natal and because on my routine appointment I’d lost a bit of weight so they decided they were going to bring the baby earlier and they said would you kindly go up to the Heath hospital by one o’clock that afternoon.
“I didn’t realise that Adrian
“Then on the day that Adrian
There was a lot of excitement not only amongst family, but also staff and the waiting media.
Barbara said: “The staff were excited because it was all new and they were going to perhaps be on duty when the first baby was born. They were lovely, all of them. I remember the old nursing officer and I can still remember her today.
“There as a bit of a fuss. We had all the papers outside, the Western Mail and the Echo, looking through the window waiting for the first picture.”
To mark the occasion Mothercare, who had only just opened in Queen Street
Barbara said: “We had the Lord Mayor there, there were boxes of chocolates, bouquets of flowers it was very special.”
The Health Board gave both Barbara and Adrian a tour of the modern maternity unit and Barbara was impressed with what she saw.
She said: “It’s very different. When I look back now it seemed basic to what they’ve got today. It’s wonderful - the birthing baths, I think it’s a lot more technology.
“What I remember was just a room with nothing in there, a bit cold. It’s warmer now.”
Adrian, who of course turns 40 along with the hospital, said he has gotten used to the tag of ‘first born baby’ and is proud of the fact – pointing to a silver egg cup the family was giving to complete with his date of birth.
Now a dad himself and having seen his children Leah, James and Olivia delivered at UHW the hospital has an even more special place in his heart.
He said: “The level of care here is brilliant. They did everything for us. My experiences have been brilliant.
“I think the hospital is important to Cardiff
