Delivery Suite

Direct line to the delivery suite: 0115 875 4672

If you think you are in labour or require any advice, please contact the delivery suite. You will be able to speak to a midwife who will give you advice and recommend when you should come into the delivery suite. If you are in the early stages of labour, for example, we often advise you to stay at home in your own comfortable surroundings.

What will happen when I arrive?

On arrival to the delivery suite, which is located close to the antenatal clinic, you will need to press the intercom button to inform staff of your arrival. The midwife allocated to care for you will take a brief history from you of what has been happening while you were at home. Unless you are advancing in labour we may recommend that you return home until labour is more established. If you prefer to stay in hospital, or if we advise that for you, you will be offered a bed on the ward. Your birthing partner can accompany you throughout the day; however we are unable to provide accommodation for birthing partners overnight on the ward.

What facilities are there in the rooms?

Each delivery room has its own shower and toilet. There are also TVs and CD/tape players in most rooms, too. We provide tea and coffee-making facilities, but also recommend that your birthing partner brings some food or money to buy refreshments in the main entrance. If you wish to use the bed, they are electronically operated, and can be adjusted by you for your comfort. There are plenty of aids available for you during your labour, and you may wish to bring some things from home. Birthing balls, birthing bean bags and aromatherapy are provided. There are rooms on the delivery suite which have been adapted for women with different abilities. These rooms have wider doorways, low sinks, extra grab rails, and level access to shower areas.

What if I want to move around?

The rooms are designed to accommodate individual needs. For example some women need extra support in labour, and others require no intervention. Midwives encourage women to be as mobile as possible in their labours – they will provide expert support and advice for labours which are ‘low tech’ and ‘high tech’. Moving around is one way you can help cope with your labour. Other ways include massage, aromatherapy, using the pool and many different positions using aids, such as beanbags, mats and birthing balls. You may like to see read the leaflet ‘Positive ways to manage pain in labour’ which you can download. You will find information about other forms of pain management, such as using gas and air (Nitrous Oxide and oxygen, known as ‘Entonox’), Pethidine or Diamorphine, epidural and the TENS machine. Further information can be obtained from: www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk This is the website of the Obstetric Anaesthetic Association. The National Childbirth Trust site is also useful: www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com