Your birthing choices

pregnant woman and her partner being shown maternity facilities

Here at MY Maternity, we offer all four options for you to give birth

Birthing choices

Here at MY Maternity, we offer all four options for you to give birth, these include:

  1. Alongside birth centre at Pinderfields Hospital
  2. Freestanding birth centre at Dewsbury and District Hospital
  3. Hospital labour ward at Pinderfields Hospital
  4. Home birth service

What our patients say

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Every member of staff I had contact with during my stay was kind and reassuring. My baby was delivered safely after a few complications

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I couldn't have asked for more. All the staff that treated me were amazing!

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I can say all those who looked after me were excellent and made me feel comfortable and at ease from start to end of my birth

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I called triage and spoke to a midwife who was waiting when I arrived. She took me to labour ward and stayed with me. It ended in emergency c-section but she remained with me, reassuring me throughout

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All staff made me feel safe and well cared for. Quick to help and so warm and friendly

When your waters break before week 37

Information on what to do if your waters break before labour begins at 37 weeks of pregnancy and beyond:

When your waters break before labour begins at 37 weeks .pdf [pdf] 184KB

Labour Ward and PACU at Pinderfields Hospital

The labour ward is located at Gate 18A level C.

You will be cared for by our team of midwives who are also supported by specialist obstetricians.

The choice to birth on the labour ward is available to everyone. If your baby is pre-term (less than 37 weeks) we advise that you give birth on the labour ward.

  • Active birthing beds available
  • Birth balls available
  • Resuscitation cot
  • One pool room
  • Ensuite bathrooms
  • Theatres for unplanned caesarean births
  • High level of pain relief such as epidural
  • Direct access to the special care baby unit

The post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) located at Gate 18B level C at Pinderfields Hospital.

  • When you arrive, you will be shown to your bed and our midwifery team will explain what to expect and you’ll get to meet the team who will be there when your baby is born. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have.
  • For elective caesarean births, you will have a slot booked in advance.
  • There are shower and toilet facilities on each of the bays.
  • All meals will be provided for you to eat at your bedside.

After a caesarean birth, you will usually be discharged home after 24 hours.

Pinderfields Birth Centre

The alongside birth centre is located at Gate 18B level C next to the labour ward.

The birth centre offers a calming and relaxing experience. Features include:

  • Spacious birthing rooms
  • Adjustable lighting
  • Bean bags
  • Pool rooms with mood lighting
  • Bluetooth connectivity for music
  • Birthing balls
  • Birthing cubes
  • Ensuite bathrooms
  • Active birthing beds
  • Birthing balls
  • Portable resuscitation cot
  • Pain relief options includes gas and air, meptid and pethidine
  • Located next to the labour ward for ease of transfer

Home birth

We have experienced midwives who will offer specialist support and be by your side throughout pregnancy, birth and beyond. You will have two midwives present at the birth.

Our midwives have a passion for providing person-centred care, offering evidence-based information and supporting choice to empower you throughout pregnancy to achieve the birth you want in your own environment. We aim to ensure the care is tailored to you as an individual, and your birth partner and family. 

Birthing at home has the following advantages:

  • Familiar surroundings help you to feel safe and more relaxed.
  • Privacy – allows you to relax which helps reduce adrenaline and aids the hormones needed for labour and birth.
  • Control – as midwives we are your guests, you maintain control.
  • You don't have to interrupt your labour to go into hospital.
  • If you have other children, you will not need to leave them.
  • Home birth is family inclusive, with partners and children having a more active role in the experience.
  • Shorter labour lengths due to all of the above.
  • Low intervention rates.
  • Increased wellbeing and breastfeeding rates.
  • You can mobilise freely, use mood lighting and music.
  • The option to use a birthing pool during labour at home.
  • Hypnobirthing.

The care you receive

If you decide to go ahead with a planned home birth, your care will be carried out by our community midwives. This allows you to build a relationship with the team throughout your pregnancy, and when in labour a member of the team will attend and stay with you for the duration until after delivery. This trusting and close relationship that builds between yourself and the team helps when you are in labour, enhancing your experience and improving outcomes.

The team will continue to care for you during the postnatal period, with extended postnatal care provided when required to support the transition into parenthood. Additional breastfeeding support will be provided as we as reassurance regarding any other areas of concern.

Birthing pools

we are able to offer a home water birth service. We hire out birthing pools (complete package), free of charge.  Please click here for more details about benefits of water births.