This freestanding midwifery unit is located in the grounds of Dewsbury and District Hospital and offers a calming and relaxing home from home experience when birthing your baby.
The Birth Centre is staffed by Midwives and Maternity Support Workers and is ideal for women with low risk pregnancies. For these families, birth in a midwifery unit is linked to lower rates of intervention, with no difference in outcomes for Mum or baby when compared to birth in a hospital labour ward (NICE 2023).
The spacious rooms maximise active birth and include
- adjustable lighting
- bean bags and birthing balls
- two Birthing pools
- bluetooth connectivity for music
- birthing cubes, couches and stools
- ensuite bathrooms in all rooms
- gas and air (entenox)
- resuscitation equipment
In addition to the birthing pool and gas and air, pain relief options also include pethidine and diamorphine. If epidural analgesia is preferred this would take place on the labour ward at Pinderfields Hospital.
Partners are welcome to stay with you on the birth centre for the duration of the stay, with both reclining chairs and double beds available.
Throughout your stay, your midwife will monitor the wellbeing of you and your baby. During labour this involves listening to baby's heart rate at regular intervals with a doppler.
If any new risks develop which require more detailed observation or medical input, transfer will be arranged to Pinderfields Hospital's maternity unit. This will be in an ambulance and you will be accompanied by a midwife.
Your midwife will discuss an individual discharge plan soon after birth. Many women choose to return home within a few hours of birth whilst others prefer to wait until later in the day. If a longer stay is required then consideration will be given to transfer to the postnatal ward at Pinderfields.
