Your birthing options
Your choice about where to have your baby will depend on the facilities and support you want, or need for your labour and the kinds of pain relief options you are considering. This is your pregnancy. We will of course observe your birth choices, keeping it in the forefront of your maternity care. However if any concerns arise during one of your visits this will be discussed with you in-depth so you are able to make an informed choice about your care and an agreed plan can be made.
We offer all women the choice of giving birth at home or in hospital. Your choice of place of birth will be discussed at your booking appointment but can be talked about at any appointment with your midwife.
There may be some occasions where women are diverted to alternative maternity units due the unit being extremely busy. This possibility is discussed with parents as part of their antenatal care, so they could look at alternative journeys to local units, if they so desired. We work closely with our neighbouring maternity units to ensure women are transferred safely, including by risk assessing all patients first. We do try to avoid this where possible but please be rest assured that you will be fully involved in any decision around your care.
Please see this information leaflet: birth place decision support generic on birth place decisions from King's College London.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS) have a dedicated webpage that contains the personalised care support plan booklet which includes translations into various languages and easier accessibility, you can visit their website here. They also have a dedicated page where you can find information that will support you as you travel through your maternity journey and beyond.
Peterborough City Hospital
Midwifery-Led Birthing Unit
We offer a relaxing, non-clinical environment for women who've had a low-risk pregnancy.
It's a separate area to the delivery suite, so having your baby here is similar to having baby at home. This is because it's more like a home than a hospital and helps promote a natural birth by enabling women to labour with little intervention.
Facilities include:
- 4 active birth rooms, with en-suites
- Birthing aids - beanbags, birthing couches, balls and stools are all available.
Location: Level 1 in the Women and Children's department.
Delivery Suite
The delivery suite includes the following facilities:
- 14 delivery rooms. all with en-suites and showers
- An active pool room
- A larger room to accommodate women who are having twins
- A latex-free room, specifically designed for women with latex allergies
- Two obstetric theatres, with recovery and high dependency facilities
- A two-bedded room with en-suite for women being induced due to pregnancy complications
Location: Level 1 in the Women and Children's department.
Hinchingbrooke City Hospital
Midwife-Led Birthing Unit (The Primrose Suite)
We offer a relaxing, non-clinical environment for women who've had a low-risk pregnancy. Having your baby here is similar to having your baby at home, it's more like a home-from-home than a hospital and helps to promote a natural birth by enabling women to labour with little intervention.
Facilities include:
- Two dedicated birthing rooms furnished with Bradbury mattresses (a special maternity mattress, to evolve with the movements of your body). One room has it's own en-suite with a bath and the other has an en-suite with a shower and access to the birthing pool
- Birthing aids - mats, cushions, birthing couches, balls and stools are all available
- Two assessment rooms
Labour Ward
We offer high quality holistic care for all women in the early stages of labour, supporting and assisting you with mobility and comfort.
Facilities include:
- Seven dedicated birthing rooms all with ensuites
- A birthing pool
- Birthing aids - mats, cushions, birthing couches, balls and stools
- A dedicated obstetric operating theatre
- The Meadow Suite for bereavement care
Location: Level 1 of the hospital to the left-hand side. Please follow the signs.
Caesarean section
The information in this leaflet: choosing-to have a c-section is for you if you're thinking about having your baby by a 'planned' or 'elective' caesarean section. If you are a partner or relative of someone, you may also find this helpful.
Homebirths
If you have suspected or confirmed Coronavirus, staff providing care will need to move you to isolation area and wear protective equipment before giving care. In an emergency this may cause a short delay. Staff have been trained putting on this equipment safely to reduce the impact of this on you and your baby.
Your choice of place of birth will be discussed at your booking appointment, but if you change your mind any any time throughout your pregnancy have a chat with your midwife who is there to support you.
Our community midwives will ensure all women are given the opportunity to give birth at home. If you choose to give birth at home, the community team will provide you with full antenatal care, in an antenatal clinic, based in your GP surgery or local children's centre.
At approximately 36 weeks a home assessment and discussion of your birth will need to take place in your home. Our community midwives provide 24/7 cover for home-births and care for you after you've given birth at home and during the postnatal period.