Buy photos » University Hospital matron Claire Allan and her team will be tweeting live from the maternity ward today. (s)
NEWBORN babies will be introduced to the world on Twitter today (Friday) with the country's first live 'tweetathon' going on at University Hospital.
The tweetathon from the Coventry hospital's maternity ward will track the progress of midwives and mothers as babies from Rugby and further afield are delivered.
It comes as part of the hospital's Maternity Month celebration of motherhood in the region.
The hospital already has a loyal and growing following on sites like Facebook and Twitter and is looking to use social media as a window into its maternity services to a wider audience.
Starting at 8am, it will follow a 12 hour shift and highlight the experiences of mothers and their babies, along with the staff who care for them while in hospital.
It is the first time any hospital in the country has tweeted live from its maternity unit. Tweeting from the hospital's profile, @nhsuhcw, communications staff will shadow people working on the ward and share pictures, advice and real-time updates.
Questions from the public will also be fielded during the day and can be submitted using the #MaternityMarch.
Modern matron for the ward, Claire Allan, said: "We are delighted the first Twitterthon in the NHS from a maternity unit will begin in our busy labour ward. It is true to say there is never a dull moment and I am sure there will be plenty of new arrivals during the day."
Carmel McCalmont, head of midwifery at the hospital, said: "Our team of midwives and consultants work incredibly hard every day to welcome new babies into the world, and we are really looking forward to giving the public a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes."
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