Local charity, So Precious, has donated £9,000 to buy new specialist equipment for the maternity unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Known as fetal pillows these silicon devices are designed to make caesarean deliveries easier, quicker and less traumatic by helping to elevate the baby’s head from the pelvis if it has become impacted.

So Precious has purchased 30 of these ‘special’ pillows, which cost £300 each. The money was raised through a number of donations, including £900 from the Larbert Round Table.

Dr Shahzya Huda, NHS Forth Valley Consultant Gynaecologist said: “We are very grateful for this fantastic donation from So Precious. The fetal pillows are a welcome addition to the department as they will help us to make deliveries for women undergoing caesarean sections quicker and less traumatic.”

Lorna Blue, So Precious Trustee, said: “Having a caesarean section can be very stressful, particularly if it is undertaken as an emergency procedure. Any equipment which can help make this easier for mothers and babies is really important and we were delighted to be able to raise the funding required to buy these new fetal pillows.”

The fetal pillows are the latest in a long line of equipment which has been funded by the local charity which was set up by a group of volunteers in 2011 to raise money for the Women and Children’s Unit at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

Over the last few years they have donated over £100,000 of equipment, toys and materials to further improve the care of women, children and newborn babies across Forth Valley. This has included CosyTherm mattresses, Accuvein machines (which make it easier and less painful to take blood samples from children), Oxygen Therapy Systems and breast milk warmers.