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Congratulations on your pregnancy and Thank you for choosing Darent Valley Hospital to have your baby. This leaflet is to give you and your birth partner information on “The Birth Centre”. The Birth Centre which is situated on Aspen ward provides a “home from home” environment in a hospital setting with women centred, midwifery led care for healthy women with low risk pregnancies that are above 37 weeks gestation. On “The Birth Centre” we have a triage room, three delivery rooms, two of which have birthing pools. One room has a built in Birthing Pool, the other an inflatable pool. We also have a four bedded postnatal bay where you will be cared for following the birth of your baby prior to transfer home. Most women chose to stay for 6 -12 hours following the birth of their baby. Here you will be supported by midwives and maternity support workers in a professional individualised manner. Your stay can be tailored to meet your needs. As there are midwives who can undertake newborn examinations, you can go home as early as six hours. The philosophy of the unit is to support normal labour and birth. Women are encouraged to use non pharmalogical methods of pain relief such as water, TENS, aromatherapy and massage and to remain mobile and upright during labour. Bean bags & birthing balls are also available to allow you to have freedom in your labour. You are welcomed to bring in personal items such as battery operated radios, DVD or CD players. We promote the use of water in labour and are happy to support hypnobirthing. Entonox is available in all the birthing rooms. Studies have demonstrated the benefits to healthy women of a low risk midwifery-led area as an alternative to the conventional labour ward. This has been associated with less medical intervention, increased likelihood of normal vaginal delivery and increased satisfaction among women with no apparent risk to mum or baby. Care during labour will be given totally by midwives and student midwives. During labour we will listen to your baby’s heartbeat using a hand held sonacaid. In low risk pregnancies this is as reliable as continuous electronic monitoring. If your labour does deviate from normal, your care will be transferred to the adjacent Delivery suite, with your midwife continuing to provide care for you. Approximately 40% of first time mothers and 13% of women having their second or subsequent baby require transfer to the alongside obstetric unit. Following the birth of your baby, we promote skin-to-skin contact to help establish early attachment and bonding. Breastfeeding is encouraged and promoted and you will receive support to help you feel more confident. We also have facilities should you wish to bring in your own bottles and prepare feeds. Suitability to have your baby on “The Birth Centre” should be discussed with your midwife at 36 weeks. Not all women will be suitable to give birth in this environment. If there have been concerns about you or you baby during your pregnancy or you had problems in your previous labour, delivery suite may be more suitable for you. If you wish to discuss your birth choices with a midwife on the ‘Birth Centre’, we hold a Birth Choices clinic on a Monday afternoon from 14:00. Please call 01322 428100 Extension 4925 to make an appointment. We hope that you enjoy your stay with us, and please feel free to ask questions at any time. Visiting Times 2 Birthing partners only during labour. Postnatal Open visiting for your partner or one nominated person. Other Visitors 2pm - 4pm 7pm - 8.30pm References Birthplace in England Collaborative Group (2011) Perinatal and Maternal outcomes by planned place of birth for healthy women with low risk pregnancies: the birthplace in England national prospective cohort study. BMJ Authors S Curwood, S Harrington (v1) Date: March 2014 review date: March 2017 Information accurate at time of going to print. Department of Health (2007) Maternity Matters: choice, access & continuity of care in a safe service DoH Hodnett, E D, Downe S & Walsh D (2010) Alternative versus conventional institutional settings for birth. Cochrane Database systematic Review NICE (2007) Intrapartum Care: care of Healthy women and their babies during childbirth. NICE Women and Children’s Directorate “The Birth Centre” On Aspen Ward Darent Valley Hospital Darenth Wood Road Dartford Kent DA2 8DA The Birth Centre 01322 428100 Extn 4925 or ask for The Birth Centre www.dvh.nhs.uk