Your birthing options
Labour and delivery options
Homebirths
Our Continuity of Carer Homebirth Team launched in January 2023.
If you wish to birth at home, your Midwife or Obstetrician can refer you at any point during your pregnancy or you can self-refer by emailing the team.
Having your baby at home [doc] 2MB
Lilac Birth Centre
Following a relocation, we are pleased to announce we are back!
The lilac birth centre is located on the first floor of the maternity unit.
With a total of eight rooms, five with birthing pools, we hope to create a calm, welcoming environment for you to birth your baby.
There are monthly open days for you to view the Birth Centre and meet the midwives, along with Active Birth Workshops. Both of these can be booked online via Eventbrite.
For any other queries please contact: j.yearwood-grazette@nhs.net
Labour ward
Our rooms are situated on the ground floor of the maternity building. There are 10 birthing rooms, and one birthing pool and each room has its own en suite facilities.
We offer continuous fetal monitoring for pregnant women who require it in labour via a cardiotocography (CTG) machine. We offer the option of telemetry (cordless and waterproof transducers) so you can mobilise more freely and be immersed in water whilst having your baby’s heart rate monitored.
Elective Caesarean deliveries
We have elective caesarean delivery lists on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. For most uncomplicated Caesarean deliveries, you will be eligible for the enhanced recovery programme. This means that you will be given regular pain relief, and your urinary catheter will be removed in the late afternoon or evening so that you can start mobilising early with the view of enabling you to be discharged the next day if you are well.
Pain relief in labour
We have all the pain relief options available and this can be discussed in more detail with your midwife during your pregnancy.
Birthing partners
You can have up to two birthing partners during labour and birth. However, if you require an elective or emergency caesarean only one birthing partner is allowed in theatres.