Labour ward

Labour ward

We aim to give high quality holistic care to all our women. 
There are 7 dedicated birthing rooms, including a birthing pool.

We have a variety of, mats, cushions and birthing balls to assist with mobility and comfort in the early stages of labour to support women in active birth.  We encourage early skin to skin contact with mother and baby as well as early breastfeeding. 

The obstetric theatre is adjacent to the labour ward; we also have a high risk delivery room that can be turned into a theatre if necessary. This room is used by women delivering twins or breech presentation vaginally.

Arriving on the Labour ward

Please ring the Labour Ward and speak to one of the midwives. She will be able to advise you if it is the right time, to come or if you would benefit from staying at home a little longer. She will also advise you on things you can do for yourself to make your labour easier. Once you arrive you will be shown to your room by one of the team and shown how to use the call system.
The midwife will start the admission procedure. This involves taking your pulse, temperature and blood pressure and having a urine test.  In addition the midwife will examine your abdomen to feel contractions, assess the baby’s position and listen to the baby’s heart rate.

We do not routinely perform continouous electronic fetal heart (CTG) monitoring on all women when admitted in labour. The midwife will review your notes and history and will then decide whether there are any risk factors which would make us want to monitor your baby continuously through labour. After discussion with you and your partner, a plan of care can be made.  

To establish if labour has started or, to see how it is progressing the midwife will need to carry out a vaginal examination. This is usually performed around every four hours once labour is established , but may need to be done at shorter intervals depending on other clinical needs e.g. pain relief or if your waters break.

Once the midwife has examined you internally she will discuss her findings with you and your birth partner and make a plan of care taking your birth plan and wishes into account. Here are some ideas that you may like to talk through with your partner and community midwife during your pregnancy, so that you are able to make informed decisions.
• If you require pain relief - What are your preferences?
• Does your birth partner want to cut the cord?  
• Do you want the baby to be passed to you skin to skin? Early skin to skin contact is very important   for establishment of breast feeding.  
• Do you want an injection to aid the delivery of the placenta? (afterbirth) 
• We strongly recommend that your baby is put to the breast soon after birth.
After you have given birth you will have and your baby will have two labels put onto him/her for identification and security reasons.
If there have been no complications and there are no other medical or obstetric reasons for you or your baby to be admitted you will be offered the opportunity to go home from Labour Suite within a few hours, or to stay overnight on Lilac ward.
If there have been complications or your baby needs extra care or observation you will be transferred to Lilac ward

Different types of birth

Types of Birth

What if you have to have a caesarean section?

During your pregnancy or even in labour a situation may arise that a Caesarean Section is advised for the birth of your baby.

We have a dedicated anaesthetist for the labour ward who will discuss with you the best form of anaesthetist for you to have during your operation. Most Caesarean Sections are performed while the woman is awake, by using a spinal anaesthetic.  In this situation, if you wish, your partner may stay with you in theatre.  To help you relax or distract you, you are more than welcome to bring in some music.  Your partner will need to wear theatre clothes which will be provided by your midwife, they will need to put these on before joining you in the theatre.

If you have a general anaesthetic (when you are asleep) for your Caesarean it will not be possible for your partner to go into the operating theatre with you.   Your partner will be shown to the two bedded unit that you will go to once your operation is completed where they can wait for you.  Your midwife will keep your partner informed of your progress, and as soon as you awake from the anaesthetic. 

The rest of the team will consist of obstetricians, a paediatrician (baby doctor) and theatre staff – one who assists the surgeon and another, an operating department practitioner, who assists the anaesthetist, and of course your midwife.  

Pain management for Labour

Labour Pain Management

Access Information: Disabled Go - Labour Ward

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon
Cambs PE29 6NT

Hinchingbrooke Direct:

01480 416416

Email:

info@hinchingbrooke.nhs.uk

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