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.

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