Delivery Suite | James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Delivery Suite

Delivery Suite

The Delivery Suite is where those who have received ‘Consultant led care’ come to labour and give birth, or for a Caesarean Section. Some may choose to give birth on the Delivery Suite because this is where they feel most comfortable, or due to the pain relief options available.

During your pregnancy your Midwife will have ongoing discussions with you about where you would like to give birth, and the options available.

Anyone experiencing problems in pregnancy may also be asked to come to Delivery Suite for assessment.

If you need to speak to a midwife urgently please call 01493 452480.

Care in labour and birth

Care in labour and birth is provided by a multi-disciplinary team of Midwives, Doctors and Support Workers. We will work in partnership with you to provide individualised plans of care.

Each shift is co-ordinated by a Senior Midwife: please ask to speak to her if you have any concerns.

Student midwives often work under the supervision of midwives on the Delivery Suite, and medical students are also occasionally placed here. Clinical experience is invaluable as we prepare the midwives and doctors of tomorrow, but we will respect your wishes if you would prefer to not have a student allocated to your care - please speak to your midwife.

Those in labour are cared for in single rooms, some of which have en-suite bathrooms. Special birthing beds, which can be moved into different positions to help you in labour, are in each room and we can also provide birthing balls, mats and beanbags to help you mobilise in labour.

We have our own dedicated Operating Theatre, Recovery and Triage Space. Anaesthetic doctors are on call 24 hours to provide epidurals for those who choose them for labour.

Paediatricians are also available 24 hours, and the Neonatal Unit is located next door.

When to call us

You think you are in labour
Your waters may have broken
You have any vaginal bleeding
Contractions are regular, every 3-4 minutes
You are worried that your baby is not moving as much as usual, or your baby’s normal pattern of movements has changed
You have any other anxieties or queries

Early signs and symptoms of labour

A show: This is the mucous plug that comes away as the cervix or neck of the womb starts to change in preparation for labour. It is usually jelly like and may be streaked with blood. A show can happen a few weeks before labour starts.

Contractions or pains: This is the most common indication that labour has started. They may start as mild, period like pains that come and go as waves across your abdomen, or be strong from the start.

Some feel them in their back or even the top of their legs. Keep a check on how frequently they are coming, perhaps using a timer.

When they are regular (every 3-4 minutes), and last 40-50 seconds call us for advice. We will chat with you and help you to decide when is the right time to come in: this will depend on how you feel you are coping, where you live, whether it is your first baby and whether there have been any complications in this or previous pregnancies or in your general health.

Waters breaking: This may happen before or as labour starts. Sometimes it doesn’t happen until just before the baby is born. If you think your waters may have broken please call us to discuss as you will usually need to be seen: this may be at home or in hospital.

If you are in labour

Please call 01493 452480 to speak to a Midwife to discuss when to come in.

Please note: Ambulances are only for emergency use. Please make your own arrangements to come in when in labour.

Birth partners

You are welcome to have a birth partner with you to support you in labour.

This can be your partner, the father, or a friend or family member.

What to bring with you

For you:

Your handheld notes & birth plan
An old t-shirt or nightie for labour
Personal items—toiletries, tissues, water spray, lip salve, camera
Energy tablets
Snacks, cold drinks, magazines, newspapers, puzzle books (for you and your partner)
Change for the car park and phones
Breast pads
Maternity pads
Disposable knickers
Support bra to wear while breastfeeding
Dressing gown/slippers/nightwear
Comfortable clothing to go home in

Note: Please leave painkillers at home. We normally prescribe Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. Please ensure you are not allergic to or have any sensitivities to these medications before taking them.

For your baby:

Nappies & cotton wool
Clothes and a warm outfit and blanket for the journey home

Please note: We do not provide formula milk so if you are not planning to breast feed please bring this with you as well as bottles for feeding. We will provide sterilising facilities.

Please bring your car seat, but leave it in the car until required as our rooms are quite small.

Caesarean section

Sometimes the doctor may recommend that your baby is born by this surgical intervention. Sometimes women request that the baby is born in this way. Caesarean section may be planned or happen as an emergency.

Planned or elective Caesarean

As for all women, we will work with you to provide an individualised plan of care. When planning caesarean section you will be asked to come in for a pre-operative visit when we will make sure that everything is ready.

On the day of the birth, you will usually be asked to come to the Antenatal ward at 8am, where the last preparations will be made. Although we aim to perform Elective Caesareans in the morning, sometimes because of activity levels there are delays: we will keep you informed if this is the case.

You will be taken to Delivery Suite operating theatre for birth, and can usually be accompanied by one birth partner.

Visiting

In order to respect others confidentiality and because we are a busy and often unpredictable clinical area, we would ask that you speak to your midwife to discuss if it is appropriate for you to have visitors in the suite itself.

While you may have your birth partner stay with you in the delivery suite, we will usually ask you to wait until you are at home or transferred to the postnatal ward for other visitors, but are pleased to discuss individual needs.

Feedback

We welcome feedback about our services.

An easy way to provide feedback is to use our Friends and Family Test survey, which is available online.

For more details and a link to the survey please visit our Patient Advice and Liaison Service page, under our Patients & Visitors section.

Central Delivery Suite video tour

Please see below for a short video that shows you around our delivery suite and explains a little more about what you can expect to see when you come in.