The Labour Ward is our consultant led unit for women who need additional monitoring in labour or may require anaesthetic, obstetric or neonatal input. One of our experienced Labour Ward Co-coordinators will manage the activity and staff on each shift to ensure that all our mothers and babies are cared for safely.
When to attend
If you are planning to birth on Labour Ward, please always phone before arrival so that we can have your room and midwife ready for you. If you think your waters have broken or labour has started please phone Maternity Triage for advice and support or to come in for a full assessment. You can discuss what is happening with a midwife and agree when would be the best time to come in.
The Maternity Triage is based with the antenatal assessment unit on the maternity unit. When you arrive, a midwife will do a full assessment including a full review of your history and pregnancy care, your blood pressure, urinalysis, palpation of your baby’s lie and your contractions, and a vaginal examination if necessary. If you are found to be in established labour you will then be transferred to Labour Ward. If your labour hasn’t yet started or you are found to be in the early stages of labour, you may be advised to return home to await events with advice on how to manage early labour at home and when to contact the unit again.
What to expect
Please bring your maternity notes and your bags packed for yourself and baby and we encourage you to bring your birth partner to support you during labour. A Midwife or Maternity Support Worker will show you to your room and help you settle in.
You will have your own room with en-suite bathroom facilities, and you are welcome to bring in your own music and items that will help you to feel comfortable. The rooms are fully equipped, and the facilities can be adjusted to meet your needs. We can support you to have an active birth with pain relief options available to support you to do this, such as Gas and Air or Diamorphine. If you would like a water birth but you have been advised that the labour ward is the most suitable place for you to give birth, water birth is possible on the labour ward but facilities are limited. We can also facilitate an epidural for pain relief. Your midwife will discuss your pain relief options with you on admission to the labour ward.
During labour one to one midwifery care is provided by a named midwife working within a larger team of doctors, midwives and maternity support workers, who may also be involved in care. Your midwife will keep you informed and work with you to support your birth choices, adapting to any changing circumstances throughout your labour.