Maternity Inpatients Peterborough City Hospital

Maternity Inpatients is a 23 bedded antenatal and postnatal ward at Peterborough City Hospital. The ward consists of 3 side rooms and five 4 bedded bays. The friendly ward team consists of Midwives, Nursery Nurses, Health Care Assistants, Maternity Support Workers, Obstetrician’s, Newborn Hearing Screeners and a Paediatrician who is based on the ward daily from 9am-4pm to ensure that families get the best care during their stay. 

Women who are cared for on Maternity Inpatients, include:

  • High risk antenatal patients requiring admission for observations
  • Induction of Labour on low risk women
  • Postnatal care to mothers and babies

On the ward the infant feeding team play an important role in supporting mothers to feed their babies, though all staff are trained in offering this support as well.

Staff also work closely with the multidisciplinary team, including, obstetricians, paediatricians, physiotherapists, safeguarding team and community team to ensure a high level of care is provided to our patients. 

Staff are highly committed to ensuring families receive excellent care, and we are proud of the accolade of ‘Outstanding’ awarded by our latest inspection for Caring, Responsive, Effective, Well Led & Safe practice. Staff are highly committed to ensuring families receive excellent care. Staff promote and embed the Trust values within the care provided. We always value patient feedback to help us improve patient experience and our maternity services.

Location: Level 1 in the Women and Children’s Unit at Peterborough City Hospital. Take the lift or the stairs from the Women and Children's Unit to level one and turn right. You will find us towards the end of the corridor on the right-hand side.

Ward telephone:  01733 677218

If you and your baby are well after you have given birth, you will both be transferred to our Maternity inpatients ward, where you will be cared for by our friendly team of midwives. They will be on hand to provide you with any advice and support you may need.

Visiting times:   

Spending time with your baby

  • We have an open access policy for parents, so you are welcome to the unit whenever you wish, during the day and night.
  • Siblings are welcome with parent(s) during the day between 08.00 and 20.00 (and must be supervised at all times)
  • If you are feeling unwell, we understand that you may be desperate to be with your baby as much as possible, but please consider postponing until you (or other visitors) are well enough.

Supporting Partners

  • In certain circumstances, we can arrange for there to be an alternate ‘supporting partner’ that is not a parent, who could potentially support you and who could receive updates by phone. This is not applicable for every family and is primarily aimed where only 1 parent is involved. Please speak to your nurse if you would like to discuss this.

Other visitors

  • Two adult visitors (over the age of 16yrs) are welcome on the unit per day between 08.00 and 14.00 then between 16.00 and 20.00. Only two people can be at the cot side at any time and one of these must be a parent.  No visitors will be allowed to visit without a parent being present unless prior arrangements have been made.
  • Visitors are restricted to 2 people at each cot side, one of these people must be a parent (siblings are not counted in these numbers). For example: Mum or Dad and 1 other visitor.  

Ward facilities:

  • There are 23 beds on the ward            
  • A mixture of single rooms with en-suite facilities and bays of four beds with a shared en-suite wet room
  • Your baby will stay in a cot beside your bed
  • Each bed has access to free TV 
  • A separate eating and sitting area within each bay

Your hospital stay:

During your stay - your baby will stay beside you day and night.

You will be encouraged to be as independent as you can with your baby but our midwives will be available to offer assistance and advice should you need it.

Cot linen and towels for your babies use will be provided. We do not provide nappies, clothes, cotton wool or toiletries so please ask visitors to bring them in for you if needed.

We have a specialist infant feeding team who will assist and support mothers in their chosen choice of feeding. If you wish to formula feed please ensure you bring in ready made newborn formula milk.

If you wish to leave the ward for any reason you should always tell the midwife on duty.

Going home:

Your midwife should give you a predicted discharge date and estimation of time of when you can expect to be discharged. It is usual when you have had a straightforward delivery to go home the same or next day.

Before you are discharged your baby will need a routine physical examination by a paediatrician or midwife. You will also be offered a hearing screen and a vaccination if this has been recommended for your baby. Any medications you need to take home will be supplied.

Once your midwife has performed all the checks for you and your baby, and the paperwork has been completed, then you may then go home.

The discharge procedure can take a few hours due to medications and paperwork. If you have urgent issues to deal with at home, you can nominate someone to return and collect your medications.

We strongly advise that you use a car seat for taking baby home.