Labour and birth of your baby

All of our local hospital maternity units offer care from midwives and consultants, or specialists, depending on the level of support you need.

Pregnancy care before (antenatal) and after birth (postnatal) is available in our hospitals, in children’s centres, community hubs, and GP surgeries. Some or all of these choices are available depending on where you choose to receive your care. If you find any locations are difficult to access due to individual needs, please discuss possible alternatives with your midwife. Across all areas we are starting to build continuity of care teams. These small teams will enable you to be cared for by a midwife who you know throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.

You will have a named midwife who will take on responsibility for coordinating your care ensuring that your needs are met at the right time and in the right place and with whom you can develop an ongoing relationship of trust.

You can give birth at home, in midwife-led birthing rooms at the hospital, or in a birthing room within the consultant-led unit.

If you have particular medical needs you may be advised to attend hospital for appointments or to give birth.

Your care after your baby is born and discharged from hospital takes place either at home or in specific postnatal clinics. These clinics are usually in hospital, or sometimes at a children’s centre or community hub.

Other choices you may want to consider:

• How much contact you have with your midwife
• Where to be cared for during your pregnancy
• Place of birth and other birth choices
• Going along to parenting education courses
• Who your main carer will be
• More info in our Better Births Choices here: MSE - Better Births Choices Booklet [pdf] 581KB

Choosing your care

• Support during labour and birth Midwife-led care chosen by most women, includes access to a team of experienced midwives 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Senior doctor (consultant) led care for mums-to-be needing more complex care and support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Specialist doctors, midwives, nurses, and support workers from different areas of healthcare as required
• Modern equipment and facilities in our maternity units
• Birthing rooms, some include birthing pools
• Labour wards with maternity theatres
• Recovery areas for women who have given birth in theatre
• Special care baby units (SCBU) or neonatal units (NICU) for babies with complex needs that require extra support.

Basildon Hospital

Midwife Led Birth Unit - 5 rooms, 2 rooms with birthing pools. All rooms with en-suite facilities.

Home Birth Service - Available on request following discussion with your midwife.

Consultant Led Birth Unit - 12 rooms plus 4 bed bay, 1 room with birthing pool, Dedicated Bereavement facilities, 2 Maternity theatres and recovery area, 24-hour Senior Doctor availability.

Your care options, if you choose Basildon & Thurrock Hospital

• Antenatal ward and ambulatory assessment service
• Triage – call 01268 524900 ext 1773/1774
• Bereavement service
• Birth reflections
• Community services
• Fetal medicine service
• Hypnobirthing and birth preparation classes
• Level 2 neonatal Intensive care unit
• Physiotherapy service
• Postnatal ward
• Specialist infant feeding service
• Specialist mental health service
• Specialist service for vulnerable women
• Transitional care (from neonatal unit )
• Ultrasound services
• Maternity Direct + App – Ask a Midwife non-urgent questions online 7 days a week (7am-8pm).

Broomfield Hospital (Mid Essex)

Birth Unit, Midwife Led Birthing Unit - 4 rooms, 2 with birthing pool, all with en-suite facilities.

Home Birth Service - Available on request following discussion with your midwife.

Delivery Unit, Consultant Led Unit - 11 delivery rooms, Bereavement services, 2 Maternity theatres and recovery area.

Your care options, if you choose Broomfield Hospital

• Antenatal ward
• Birth reflections
• Community care
• Fetal medicine service
• Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Physiotherapy services
• Postnatal ward
• Provision of transitional care
• Specialist infant feeding service
• Specialist mental health service
• Specialist vulnerable pregnancy service
• Triage – call 01245 513039 or 01245 313355
• Ultrasound services
• Day Assessment Unit
• Hypnobirthing / Antenatal Classes services
• Maternity Direct + App – Ask a Midwife non-urgent questions online 7 days a week (7am-8pm).

Southend Hospital

Birth Unit/ Midwife Led Birthing Unit - 4 delivery rooms, each with en-suite facilities, 1 room with birthing pool. 2 rooms with blow up birthing pools.

Home Birth Service - Available on request following discussion with your midwife.

Delivery unit Consultant Led Unit - 6 delivery rooms plus 5 bed bay, 1 room with birthing pool, Bereavement services. 2 Maternity theatres and recovery area.

Your care options, if you choose Southend Hospital

• Antenatal Ward/ Antenatal Clinic
• The Missing Piece Service (Birth reflections)
• Birth Options Clinic
• Preterm Birth Clinic
• Fetal well-being Services
• Community care
• Fetal medicine service
• Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Physiotherapy services
• Postnatal ward
• Provision of transitional care
• Specialist infant feeding service
• Specialist mental health service
• Specialist vulnerable pregnancy service
• Triage – call 01702 385301
• Ultrasound services
• Day Assessment Unit
• Hypnobirthing / Antenatal Classes services
• Maternity Direct + App – Ask a Midwife non-urgent questions online 7 days a week (7am-8pm)
• Better Start 1-2-1 breastfeeding support at https://abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/locations