Maternity – labour choices

Personalised care 

Your midwife will give you clear information. So you can make the best choices for you and your baby. They will also help you write a birth preferences plan (a record of what you would like to happen during labour, birth, and after birth). We know this plan can change. Many people change their minds later in pregnancy, or even during labour. 

One of the first questions we ask is where you would like to give birth. At Stepping Hill, you have three main options:

1. Delivery Suite – This has midwives and specialist doctors. It is best for women and birthing people who are high risk (more chance of problems) or who want stronger pain relief.
2. Birth Centre – A midwife-led unit. It feels more like home and offers natural options such as water birth. It is best for people who want a calmer, low-intervention birth.
3. Home Birth – At home, you are in a familiar space, which helps you feel relaxed. This can support labour. Our community midwives will bring all the equipment you need.

Delivery Suit

Located on: First Floor
Our delivery suite is set up to help with both natural births and caesarean sections.

For women who need or want a caesarean, we have a special theatre area. This area has 2 operating theatres, where the surgery will take place. There is also an anaesthetic room, where doctors will give you medicine to make sure you feel comfortable and pain-free during the surgery. After the surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room, where you can rest while the medicine wears off. This space is made to help you and your partner feel as comfortable and supported as possible.

Delivery Suite is recommended for people who have had more problems during pregnancy. We have extra support from doctors and midwives to help you through the birth process and make sure you’re well taken care of. Here on Delivery Suite, we can also offer stronger pain relief if you need it. There are different options available to help you feel more comfortable during birth, and our team will work with you to choose the best one for you.

A team of specialists works together to keep you and your baby safe. This team includes Obstetricians, Anaesthetists, Paediatricians, Neonatal Nurses, Theatre Staff, Midwives and HCA’s.

Birth Centre 

Located on: Third Floor
Social Media: Instagram page, stockport_birth_centre

The Birth Centre is a Midwife Led Unit with four birth rooms. Three rooms have birth pools and soft lights. 

The Birth Centre offers a calm, relaxing place that helps labour progress naturally. Midwives and Midwifery Assistants give care and support. It is for women who are not expected to have complications. If you have a higher chance of complications, you may still be able to use the Birth Centre. Talk to your community midwife, who can help you make a personalised plan.

Aromatherapy is also available on the Birth Centre. This uses natural oils to help you relax in an oxytocin-promoting space. It can be used if you are past your due date, getting ready for labour, or if your waters have broken (SROM) but contractions have not started.

Following the birth of your baby you can stay for a few hours and go home or choose to move to the ward for a longer stay in the hospital.

Home Birth 

You can choose to have your baby at home. Home births can help you feel calm and in control. There are several benefits to home births. You can move freely, use a birthing pool, and make the space comfortable with lighting or music, and you don’t need to leave other children or be separated from your partner. Home births also have a lower chance of interventions, such as forceps or vacuum delivery.

During your antenatal appointments, your midwife will talk to you about home birth options and help you make a plan. Stepping Hill has a 24 hours and day, 7 days a week on-call rota for community midwives, so when you go into labour, you just call the hospital. Two experienced midwives will come to your home with all the equipment you need. They will stay with you throughout labour. They will support you, check on your baby, and help with feeding and recovery after the birth.

Home births are mostly for low-risk pregnancies, but sometimes we can support a home birth if your pregnancy becomes a little more complicated. You may need to transfer to hospital if any problems happen, and your midwife will explain why and where you would go. Choosing where to give birth is your decision, and you can change your mind at any time.

Ward Maternity 2 

Maternity 2 is a ward for women before and after birth. The team helps with recovery, caring for you and your baby, and supporting breastfeeding. You may stay here after a normal birth or longer if extra checks are needed. The ward has a patient kitchen, meals are provided, and visitors are welcome at set times. Staff and peer supporters are available to help with your care and answer any questions. For more information visit our maternity antenatal care page.

Community Midwives 

Along with your antenatal appointments, community midwives will visit you after your baby is born. After you leave the hospital, a community midwife or assistant practitioner will visit your home. They will look at your recovery, your baby’s weight, and answer any questions you have. They will also give advice on safe sleep. They will visit again on day 5 and day 10. Some people may have extra visits if needed.

Neonatal Unit 

Located on: Ground Floor

Our Neonatal Unit at Stepping Hill Hospital provides specialist care for infants with additional care needs from birth complying with local Trust, Network and National Guidance.

Our Neonatal Unit is a Local Neonatal Unit (LNU). We provide short-term intensive care, high dependency care, and special care for babies born from 27 weeks. We work closely with maternity services to help babies who may need Transitional Care

NNU has a total of 17 neonatal cots comprising of: –

• 2 Intensive Care Cots
• 3 High Dependency Cots
• 12 Special Care cots

Our unit also has 4 Transitional Care Cots and 3 Family Bedrooms.

Our  visiting times are different to our main maternity visiting times due to the nature of the service:

• Parents are encouraged to be with their baby anytime, day or night, and to participate in their care.
• Quiet time is scheduled from 1:00pm to 2:00pm; you can still stay with your baby during this time, but please keep noise to a minimum.
• Siblings can visit anytime but must be accompanied by a parent.

Bedside visitor numbers are limited to 2 per cot. Please note that unfortunately no other children other than siblings are permitted to visit our neonatal unit

How to use the service

Self-referral is available via our online form. Referrals are also accepted from GPs, midwives, and A&E departments.

Parking: There are parking spaces near the Maternity Unit, but they can fill up quickly as parking is limited.

You can buy a parking pass for £14 which lasts through your pregnancy. These passes are available at the Rowan Suite, which is located in the main hospital reception area.