Download The Birth Centre

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