Delivery suite

Women delivering in our labour ward have access to one-to-one midwifery care along with the additional support of our obstetric and anaesthetic colleagues, including 24-hour access to our epidural service.  

We have facilities which enable women to have an active labour and birth including a room with a birthing pool and a range of supportive equipment such as mats and birthing balls. Our midwives will support you to create a comfortable and relaxing birth environment and can help you adopt positions during labour which may assist progress.

Telemetry machines provides wireless and waterproof monitoring of your baby’s heart rate and supports you too mobilise freely.

You would give birth on the Delivery Suite if you:

• Have medical or obstetric complications
• Have had complications in a previous pregnancy or birth
• Go into labour before 37 weeks
• Require induction of labour (IOL)
• Need to have a caesarean section
• Choose to have your baby on the labour ward
• Would like an epidural

Pain relief options:

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS)
• Hydrotherapy (pool)
• Entonox
• Pethidine
• Epidural (find out more about epidurals)

You can find out more information about pain relief here.

Birth options information:

• Birth options – Information for healthy, low-risk women having their first baby
• Birth options – Information for healthy, low-risk women who have had a baby before

Transfer from Delivery Suite

After a normal birth, transfer usually occurs within two hours. If both you and your baby are well you may be discharged home directly from delivery suite.

If you need to be monitored closely following the birth e.g. after caesarean section (typically 4hrs) you will be transferred to our High Dependency Unit prior to going to the postnatal ward.

Delivery suite Facilities

• 8 birthing rooms all with en-suite, 1 pool room with waterproof mobile fetal monitoring
• 4 bedded High Dependency Unit
• 2 bedded recovery area
• 2 Obstetric Theatres

Want to have a look?

Click here to watch our online tour.

Visiting times

You are welcome to have 2 named birthing partners with you during labour. Should transfer to theatre be necessary then you will only be able to have one with you. Please be aware that all other visitors will need to wait until you are transferred to the postnatal ward areas. If you are having a planned caesarean section, we would recommend family and friends not coming to the maternity unit until early evening.

Meals

Meals are available for mothers only.

Breakfast 08:00.

Lunch      12:30.

Dinner     17:30.

Special dietary requirements are able to be accommodated.

Location: First floor of the Maternity Unit.