“HAVING the latest monitors to see how your baby is doing and hearing their heartbeat while you’re waiting for your labour to progress was really reassuring.”

Michaela Cone was a nervous first-time mum-to-be when she arrived at Salisbury Hospital this month.

Before and during her labour, she was reassured by the use of new baby monitoring equipment, which allowed her and midwives to keep an eye on the little one, as well as monitoring contractions.

Eight state-of-the-art Cardiotocography (CTG) machines for the Labour Ward and Day Assessment Unit were funded by the Stars Appeal, the hospital’s charity, at a cost of £80,000.

And Michaela, from Amesbury, praised the devices which were used during the birth of her baby, Rory.

“The machine was fantastic and helped put my mind at ease,” she said. “I want to say a big thank you to Stars Appeal supporters for making this equipment possible.”

New mum Michaela with baby Rory. Picture: Stars Appeal

CTGs are used particularly for pregnant mums with higher risk factors and enable midwives to detect any problems, hospital staff said.

Several of the new monitors have wireless sensors so expectant mums have more freedom to walk around.

Fetal surveillance lead midwife, Tori Harper, said: “It is one of the best tools we’ve got to help us to understand in a snapshot how the baby is doing.

“Having these new CTGs is enhancing the care for babies and mums by significantly improving the quality of our monitoring.”

Over the last three years, the Stars Appeal has funded more than £300,000-worth of projects, supporting the 2,200 babies born at the hospital – and their families – each year.

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Gifts left by three local supporters in their wills enabled the charity to help create the Beatrice Birth Centre, which opened last October, along with a new entrance and reception, and courtyard garden for the Maternity Department.

The charity has also funded reclining sleeper chairs across the Maternity Department so mums and their partners can be more comfortable while in hospital, as well as additional medical equipment.

The Stars Appeal is currently fundraising for 20 specialist cots for newborn babies on the Labour and Postnatal wards, which cost £1,900 each. The cots, which are height adjustable and have drop down sides, will make it easier and more comfortable for mums to be closer to their babies and enable greater bonding in the first few hours of life.

Supporters who can raise or donate £1,900 or more will have the opportunity to add their name, or that of a loved one, to their very own cot.

To find out more about the equipment and projects the Stars Appeal are currently fundraising for, visit www.starsappeal.org/what-were-fundraising-for.