Queen’s Hospital’s new childbirth unit opened this week – and proud Ellena Kelly was the first expectant mum through the doors.

Ellena’s baby girl, who hasn’t yet been named, was born on Wednesday, January 9 – the day after the birth centre opened – weighing seven pounds and 14 and a half ounces.

The unit, which is staffed by midwives rather than doctors, is designed to give low-risk women a more comfortable environment, with non-hospital beds, natural pain relief and the opportunity to have partners stay overnight in the same room.

Ellena said she was so relaxed she didn’t even need gas and air – just paracetamol.

“We’d had a tour when I was pregnant,” she said, “but we didn’t imagine we’d get anything like the size of room we did.

“I had a water birth in the pool. Everything was all in one room. It was like a home from home.

“It was so relaxed and calm – I can’t fault it.”

The 33-year-old nanny and husband Richard, also 33, took their little bundle of joy home to Hornchurch, yesterday (Thursday).

The little girl, who was a week overdue, is the couple’s first child.