A DETERMINED mother defied standard medical procedure to make history by having a totally unique birth.

Abi Harris, 39, is the first woman to give birth to twins in a birthing pool at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The babies, Florence Eliza Capstick and Sam George Capstick, are doing well and are completely unaware of their unusual entry into the world.

After two previous traumatic births, Abi, from Park House Farm in Heversham, was keen to have as natural, non-medicalised experience as possible - even opting for a hypnobirth to reduce her stress levels.

Twin births can be complicated procedures, with the second twin sometimes turning in the womb and requiring a caesarian section.

Doctors normally discourage mothers from using the birthing pool but Abi was undeterred and she went on the have 'the perfect birth'.

"I didn't realise until after how unique the situation was," she said. "I feel proud that I could deliver them naturally without any medical intervention. It was a real plus for me to get away from the medical side of it - that was key for my emotional wellbeing. I feel really positive that I have been able to do that."

Staff at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, which opened in 1896, confirmed that it was the first twin water birth the hospital has ever had, and news of the momentous event spread fast.

"The next day a couple of midwives came in and said they had to meet the lady who had the first twin births in the pool," said Abi.

"A doctor said that in 25 years he had never seen such a unique birth."

Abi and her fiancée Paul, 38, are adamant that it was not a risky decision.

"We had a very detailed birth plan and we were well aware of the risks," she said. "If for one second Paul or I had any concerns and nurses advised us that they had detected a problem we would have done what they said in a heart beat. We wanted to strive for as natural birth as possible and we're very lucky the staff supported us 100 per cent."

Sascha Wells, Deputy Director and Head of Midwifery Obstetrics at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It’s wonderful to hear how through collaborative working our community midwives, labour suite midwives, obstetricians and supervisors of midwives were able to work with Abigail and Paul to meet their birthing wishes and develop a birthing plan they were happy with while ensuring Abigail and the twins were safe at all times - which is our number one priority."

Abi is keen for other mothers to learn from her experience.

"For a lot of women birth can be scary," she said. "There was another woman due on the same day and the first words said to her were: 'We'll book you in for a c-section. That shouldn't be the first option. I'm not telling people to go against medical advice but strive to get the birth that you want for you and your family."