Royal Stoke University Hospital

Some women choose to have their baby at home. It is a natural and safe choice and can be ideal for women who are expecting to have a healthy pregnancy, straightforward childbirth and a healthy baby. 

Your named midwife will be able to advise you if it is safe to have your baby at home and will arrange this for you. There are many advantages to having a home birth. You will not have to travel in labour and will not be separated from the rest of your family. You are likely to need less pain relief and infection after birth is less likely. Breastfeeding is often easier to establish. 

However, some pain relief methods (epidural) are not available at home and transfer to hospital during labour might be necessary if problems arise.​

'Prenatal' or 'antenatal' development is the period during which an embryo or fetus gestates during pregnancy, from fertilization until birth.

Royal Stoke Unive​rsity Hospital​

The Antenatal Clinic is an outpatient clinic, situated on the Ground Floor of the Maternity Centre. It is where we provide antenatal care for women who are under the care of one of our consultants rather than those who intend to give birth at home or in our Midwife Birth Centre.

General Info​rmation

The Antenatal Clinic is open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm. Vending machines are available at the main entrance to the maternity centre selling drinks and snacks. There is a drinking water dispenser and also a public telephone and a free taxi phone within the unit.

If your midwife has recommended that you are referred to the hospital for an antenatal appointment it is generally due to something in either you or your family history that requires more monitoring than can be provided in the community. When attending  the antenatal clinic at the hospital you will have a urine test, blood pressure check and an abdominal examination. 

Further tests such as blood tests and ultrasound scans may be offered. The reason should be explained to you so you can understand your care. Unlike visits done in the community, during this appointment you will be seen and examined by a consultant obstetrician who will become responsible for planning further care. 

Follow-up antenatal visits

Follow-up visits will be offered depending on your care pathway. These may be with the community midwife or at the hospital with an obstetrician or a combination of both. Usually follow-up visits do not take as long as the initial visit but the same routine examination will be conducted, whihc includes blood pressure and an abdominal examination. Your urine will also be tested and depending on the stage of your pregnancy, your baby's heart rate listened to. 

These examinations give an indication of your baby's growth, development and wellbeing. After about 30 weeks of your pregnancy you will be able to detect a clear pattern of movements. If you feel this pattern has changed you should contact the hospital on the 24-hour help ine given to you by your community midwife.​

Ultrasound scans

You will usually have two scans; one between 11 – 13 weeks of pregnancy and a detailed scan at approximately 20 weeks. They will be carried out in the hospital's scan department at Royal Stoke and County Hospital, at Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre or Bradwell Hospital. Your community midwife will book the most appropriate venue for you. Other venues may be available in the near future. You will be able to purchase a photograph of the scan. 

Contact Numbers

• Antenatal Clinic Reception: 01782 672111
• Antenatal Clinic Appointments: 01782 672113
• Antenatal Clinic Manager: 01782 672111​
  
  

Our staff and ​​​​clinics

We combine a number of specific medical disorders with obstetric clinics so women should always have the opportunity to be cared for by the specialist consultant. We have 11 consultant obstetricians who each run clinics and have specialist areas of expertise. 

Many of our midwives also have individual areas of expertise.  We have an antenatal screening specialist midwife, a perinatology midwife, a midwife with a special interest in Epilepsy, a midwife with a special interest in Diabetes and a midwife who coordinates care for vulnerable women.

On Wednesday mornings we hold a midwife-led PEACH (Parent Emotional Antenatal Clinic for Health) clinic which deals with mental health issues.  We also have a specialist perineal clinic which is run by a midwife who is a professor in women's health. All of the midwives work alongside the specialist consultants within the antenatal clinic.

A pre-operative assessment clinic is held every morning Monday to Thursday for women who plan to have a caesarean section.

On Tuesday afternoons our midwives see pregnant women, particularly those who live outside the immediate area, for their first appointment and on Friday afternoons we have a midwife-led Anti-D clinic for mums who are Rhesus negative.In order to maintain continuity of care the Antenatal Clinic also has strong links with the community midwifery team.

The Perineal Car​e Clinic

The dedicated Perineal Care Clinic was set up at University Hospital in March 2003. It runs every Wednesday morning and afternoon. The main aim of the clinic is to provide care for women who suffer from perineal problems including bowel, bladder or sexual dysfunction following childbirth. We also see women during the early antenatal period who have experienced complex perineal trauma or anal sphincter injuries during previous births, in order to advise regarding the best mode of delivery.

Women can be referred directly to the clinic via their midwives, general practitioners, health visitors, physiotherapists, practice nurses, and consultants. The Perineal Care Team works closely with other disciplines, including obstetric physiotherapists, colorectal surgeons, urogynaecologists and continence advisors. The multi-disciplinary team meets monthly to discuss and plan appropriate care for women with complex problems.

Where needed, we refer women for further investigations, such as an endo-anal scan or anorectal physiology tests. The Perineal Care Clinic provides exceptional care in a friendly environment and the way it works is being copied by many other units. We are leading in research relating to perineal care and also run local, national and international courses relating to the management of perineal trauma.

The Parent Emotional Antenat​​al Clinic for Health (PEACH)

This is a weekly specialised multidisciplinary service working with the parent and baby day unit at Bucknall ​Hospital. PEACH is a midwife-led specialised perinatal mental health clinic that runs alongside a consultant led antenatal clinic. The main aim of this service to provide guidance, advice and support for women in relation to any current or past mental health issues throughout their pregnancy.

Fetal M​​edicine

Fetal medicine offers patients detailed assessment and screening of their fetus with ultrasound when a problem is suspected. We also offer procedures including amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. The service is run by a multidisciplinary team including midwives, support workers, radiographers, secretaries, paediatric and neonatal specialists.

Obstetric/neurology clinic

This is a monthly specialised multidisciplinary clinic that has strong links with the hospital's neurology department. Care pathways for this clinic are in line with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) and the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) recommendations for the management of epilepsy in pregnancy. The role of the clinic has also been extended to care for women with other neurological problems.

Screening tests for you and your baby

Click here​ to find out more about what screening is offered for you and your baby during and after pregnancy.

Your scans may be booked at:

• Bentilee Neighbourhood Centre ST2 0HG
• Bradwell Hospital ST5 7NJ
• Royal Stoke Maternity Hospital ST4 6QG
• County Hospital ST16 3SA

Please drink at least one pint of water one hour before your scan and attend with a full bladder.

Please bring your pregnancy notes to every scan appointment.

One person (partner/relative) can come into the scan room with you. Please be aware that once the scan begins there is no swapping allowed: this is to allow the sonographer to give their full attention to your baby’s scan. The ultrasound scan is a medical examination and it is necessary for the sonographer to be able to concentrate on carrying out the necessary checks and measurements on your baby.

Ideally we ask that children do not accompany you to your scan. However, if you have no alternative then they will of course be allowed into the scan room with you. Please note however that if children become disruptive the scan may have to be stopped and rebooked.

Please note the reason for the scan is to check that everything is okay with your baby. If you wish to know your baby’s sex, the sonographer will look during your scan but if it isn’t possible to see your baby’s sex then we do not book a further scan for this reason.

A printed scan photograph can be provided at your request at a cost of £4 each. Payment is by cash or debit / credit card. Taking your own pictures of the ultrasound screen or recording your scan is not permitted at any time.

Please note UHNM do not include a printed scan photograph of your baby as part of the medical examination.

About the Delivery Suite

The Delivery Suite is situated on the second floor of the Maternity Centre at Royal Stoke. We have 16 delivery rooms, all with en-suite facilities. Women who are booked under the care of a Consultant will have their baby on this department, as will women who require their labour to be induced. 

There are also four high-dependency rooms for patients who require specific support throughout their labour. Each of the four rooms has up-to-date technical equipment in order to monitor patients more intensively. 

Staff on the Delivery Suite include midwives, doctors, nurses, clinical support workers, and hotel support service staff, all of whom work with women to provide a full range of care suited to their needs. There is a patient and partner sitting room available for refreshments.

On the Delivery Suite we promote normal birth. If there are no anticipated problems, women are cared for solely by the midwife. However we do recognise that some births need closer monitoring for a variety of reasons. 

We actively encourage women to be mobile and have telemetry facilities for monitoring. We provide mats and birthing balls for you to use. We offer a wide range of pain relief including epidural anaesthesia to suit your needs. 

We also have two operating theatres which are used for women who have a planned caesarean section. This is offered five days-a-week and also to conduct emergency cases 24 hours-a-day. There is a three-bedded post- analgesia care unit where patients are admitted for immediate post-operative assessment prior to their transfer to the postnatal ward.

There are two designated rooms set aside from both the Midwifery Assessment Unit and Delivery Suite in order to care for women who have experienced the loss of their baby. There is a counselling and sitting area with refreshments available for families to have private discussion. The bereavement suite staff are trained specifically to support families through this very sad time.

There is an 'early-births' room for parents whose babies are anticipated to require neonatal intensive care.

Admission during labour

During your pregnancy your midwife will discuss the signs of labour with you and give you instructions on when to contact the hospital. When you think you are in labour, you should contact the department you are booked to have your baby. 

This could be Royal Stoke Delivery Suite on 01782 672333, Royal Stoke Midwife Birth Centre on 01782 672200, Royal Stoke Maternity Assessment Unit on 01782 672300 or the Freestanding Birthing Unit County Hospital on 01785 230059 for advice. When you are admitted to hospital it is important that you bring with you any tablets or medicines you have been taking.

Visiting information

Visiting is not allowed on the delivery suite, except for when a lady is staying in a high dependency room for a number of days.  Family are allowed to visit if a lady has a stillbirth.

The early pregnancy unit is a nurse lead service which provides care for women who experience problems in early pregnancy, at less than 16 weeks gestation e.g. threatened miscarriage.

Patients who attend the early pregnancy unit will have experienced mild to moderate problems, such as bleeding or pain in early stages of pregnancy. 

Patients are referred to the unit by the clinician whose care they are under, and may attend the department on a number of occasions over the period of a few days for repeat investigations/scans.  

Please note that self-referrals are not accepted. The service is nurse led, with only very complex cases being referred for further medical assessment.

Contact Reception:  01782 672110

The Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU) provides additional care and assessment for women from 16 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks after birth. You may call the unit’s emergency telephone number at any time during your pregnancy to discuss problems or receive advice.

24 Hour Helpline Number (01782 672300)

You will be asked various questions about your pregnancy and symptoms to enable us to establish the best place to assess and treat you. You may be advised to attend the unit if we think you have a problem which needs attention from a midwife or an obstetrician. You could also be referred to the unit by your midwife GP or Antenatal Clinic.

Please have your hospital number available so that the midwife can access your medical notes electronically.

Your community midwife will give you this at your first booking appointment.

Triage

The MAU operates a triage system. This enables midwives to assess your condition and ensure that care and treatment is given in a timely manner.

The triage system consists of a 3 tier system of:

1. Midwifery Triage ( assess the condition that you have attended with)
2. Midwifery Assessment ( perform the relevant investigations required)
3. Medical Assessment (review by a doctor if this is required).

In Triage the midwife will discuss the concerns that you have attended with.

She will also perform an antenatal examination, including listening to your baby’s heart rate (If required) and discuss your baby’s movement pattern.

Once your symptoms have been assessed you will be allocated a waiting time.

These are:

Priority 1 (Red)      Seen immediately

Priority 2 (Orange) Seen within 15 minutes

Priority 3 (Yellow)   Seen within 1 hour

Priority 4 (Green)    Seen within 4 hours 

Once triaged you may be asked to sit in the waiting area until further assessments can be completed.

We aim to keep to the above waiting times, however MAU is a busy area and these times may differ. Some delays unfortunately are inevitable.

We understand that visiting Triage may be stressful time and we are continuously trying to keep waiting times to a minimum.

Refreshments

There are various places within the hospital site that refreshments can be brought, and there are also vending machines. Please ask staff for the location of these places and they will happily direct you.

There is a water cooler situated within the department.

If you prefer you could bring your own light refreshments.

We aim to ensure that any visits to MAU are timely and as stress free as possible. Please speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns

Useful Contact Numbers

Antenatal Clinic                               672112

Delivery Suite                                  672333

Ward 205                                         672205

Ward 206                                         672206

Ultrasound Scan Department        672158

Covid 19

If for any reason you need to visit MAU, please wear a mask and use the hand sanitiser situated in main reception and again when entering the department.

To try and reduce the spread of Covid 19 you will be asked to attend alone. Please tell staff if you or any of your household have any symptoms of Covid 19.   Please inform staff if you have been self-isolating so that you can receive care in the most appropriate area. 

Wards 205 and 206 are inside the Maternity Centre. There are 28 beds on each ward. On each ward there are 12 ensuite side rooms and 4 en-suite bays (4 beds per bay).

A number of consu​ltant obstetricians work on these wards, providing specialist care for women admitted both before and after birth. ​The wards have disabled access in all areas including bathrooms. An assisted bathroom is also available.

Postnatal care

During your stay in hospital we encourage you to keep your baby in a cot by your bed at all times, unless any special treatment is required. This helps you to get to know your baby and promote bonding. On the ward the midwives will continue to help to plan your care and that of your baby. Your stay in hospital after having your baby will depend on your delivery. During this time the midwife will make sure that you and your baby are well. Help and support will be available to give you confidence in caring for your baby. Please discuss your plan for going home with the midwife on the ward. You will be visited at home the day after you return.​

Our maternity centre has been accredited as 'UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) Baby Friendly' because of our best practice standards in breastfeeding. There are also breastfeeding co-ordinators available to offer support to women on the wards. 

Mobile telephones are permitted on the wards and there is a payphone available in the day room.​

Transitional care

This is a ten-bedded area located on ward 205 that cares for babies who require additional monitoring but do not need the level of care required from a neonatal unit. The mothers and babies are roomed together and parents are encouraged to have direct input into the care of their baby. 

The baby's care will be provided by a highly competent and skilled workforce trained specifically in the care of the neonate. The midwives on ward 205 will provide any care required for the mother.

Contact Num​bers

Ward 206 (Postnatal and Antenatal) 01782 672206 

Ward 205 (Postnatal and Antenatal) 01782 672205

About the centre

The Midwife Birth Centre (MBC) is a dedicated unit located on the first floor of the Maternity Centre at Royal Stoke. Approximately 1,500 babies are born here each year. 

The centre is run by midwives who care for women in labour, deliver their babies, provide immediate postnatal care and transfer women back to the care of the community midwife on discharge from hospital. (Mum stays in her own room from when she is admitted in labour, through delivery until she goes home).

The centre is open to pregnant women with minimal or no complications. 

The MBC offers antenatal relaxation classes, which help to educate women and their birth partner about strategies for coping with early labour.​ The breastfeeding coordinators also offer monthly antenatal breastfeeding classes in the department.​​​

Facilities

There are eleven rooms, each of which has an en-suite bathroom with a large bath that can be used for hydrotherapy in labour. Every room has a flat screen TV and dimmer switch lighting for an ambience of calm. 

The birthing pool room has special colour change lights which can be set to the patient's preference and create a comforting and relaxed atmosphere. There is also a music sound system for use if desired.

The centre has a dining room where mums and their partners can relax and make drinks and snacks. ​

During the birth

Normal birth is promoted. Women's expression of choice is actively encouraged, as is delivery off the bed. A clam, quiet environment is provided to help with the birth experience. If all goes well you will be transferred home to the care of your community midwife within a few hours of the birth.

Choices of pain relief include massage, mobility, hydrotherapy, Entonox (gas and air) and pethidine. If during your labour you decide you want to have an epidural, or should any complications arise, you may be transferred to the Delivery Suite.

Mum can have two people with her during labour and birth. ​