Birth centre

Many women choose to have their baby in our birth centre, which is located close to the labour ward. Care in the birth centre is provided by midwives.

The rooms are furnished to create an atmosphere that helps you and your birth partner feel as calm and comfortable as possible. We encourage active birth, which means you can move freely and find positions that feel right for you. To support this, we provide slings, bean bags, birthing balls, mats, and a birthing pool. You are also welcome to bring your own music or small personal items to make the space feel your own.

For pain relief, we offer a range of options including water, gas and air, pethidine, and TENS machines.

The birth centre is best suited for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. This is because the rooms are not equipped with the same monitoring and equipment used for higher-risk care. This helps create a more personal, homely atmosphere, but it does mean that higher-level monitoring cannot be carried out here. If your circumstances change during labour and you or your baby need extra support or you decide you would like an epidural, you will be quickly and safely transferred to the nearby labour ward.

If you are unsure whether the birth centre is right for you, please speak to your midwife or doctor.

There are 4 birthing rooms, each with its own bathroom.
2 rooms have fold-down double beds. These can be put away so you have more space to move around during labour, or pulled down so you and your birth partner can rest comfortably during labour and after your baby is born.
In addition, there is 1 birth pool room for water birth or pain relief. This room has an ensuite toilet.

There are 6 birthing rooms, each with its own bathroom.
3 rooms have birth pools for water birth or pain relief.
3 rooms have fold-down double beds. These can be put away so you have more space to move around during labour, or pulled down so you and your birth partner can rest comfortably during labour and after your baby is born.

Visiting on the birth centre

You can choose up to two birth partners to be with you during labour, and they can stay with you after your baby is born.

Most women go home straight from the birth centre, within 12 hours of the birth. However if you need to stay longer and move to the postnatal ward, visiting hours for birth partners will apply.

Other visitors can only see you once you are on the postnatal ward and during visiting hours.