The labour ward (also called obstetric unit) in St John’s Hospital Maternity Unit has a friendly, welcoming environment. The labour ward is run by a team of midwives, consultant obstetricians, maternity care assistants and clinical support workers who provide care and support throughout your labour and in the early hours following the birth of your baby.
Expand to learn more about terminology you’ll find on this page.
A straightforward pregnancy means you do not have any known complications that may affect your pregnancy and the birth. Scroll down for information on complications and recommendations for birth centre delivery.
An obstetric unit provides on-site access to specialist services such as obstetricians and operating theatres, as well as specialist neonatal and anaesthetic care.
Is the labour ward at St John’s hospital the right choice for me?
The labour ward is often the place of birth recommended to women who have certain complications in their current and/or previous pregnancies and will require additional monitoring or support. An onsite team of anaesthetists ensures that women who know they wish to have an epidural during labour will have access to this service.
Giving birth on the labour ward is also recommended when it is known the baby will require additional support or care at birth. If you have any significant factors which can make labour and birth more complex for you and your baby, your midwife or doctor will recommend that you give birth in an obstetric unit. This will be discussed with you so you understand the risks and benefits and can make a decision based on your personal preferences.
What does the Evidence Say?
In the 2011 Birthplace Study, which looked at the safety of different places of birth for healthy women with straightforward pregnancies, the rates for interventions during labour and birth – including episiotomy, assisted birth and caesarean birth – were significantly higher for women who gave birth in an obstetric unit, including for women without complicating conditions at the start of care in labour.
Rates of assisted birth for straightforward pregnancies are low, but slightly higher among births in obstetric units.
7% of women with an uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancy who gave birth in an obstetric unit had an assisted birth. This rate was 5% for women giving birth in an alongside midwife-led unit and 2% for those giving birth at home.
Rates of cesarean birth for straightforward pregnancies are low, but higher among births in obstetric units.
11% of women with an uncomplicated, low-risk pregnancy giving birth in an obstetric unit had a caesarean birth. This rate was 4% for women giving birth in an alongside midwife-led unit and 3% for those giving birth at home.
What should I expect if I give birth at the Labour Ward?
In NHS Lothian there are two obstetric units (also called labour wards). One at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and one at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.
Labour wards offer a whole range of medical facilities, although the environment is made to feel as relaxed and comfortable as possible. When you are in labour you will be cared for one-to-one by a midwife. A team of obstetric doctors and anaesthetists will be on hand and can be called for assistance if required.
If I think I am in labour, when do I call?
You will be asked for your details and a brief account of your present situation and given advice as to what to do next.
Call St John’s Hospital 24-hour Labour Line at 01506 524 125 if you:
- If you think you are in labour or that your waters have gone
- You are over 37 weeks pregnant
- You have booked to have your baby at St. Johns Hospital maternity unit.
If you have an emergency of a life-threatening nature, call 999 for an emergency ambulance.
Learn more about what to expect at the labour ward here.
If you have any significant factors which can make labour and birth more complex for you and your baby, your midwife or doctor will recommend that you give birth in an obstetric unit. This will be discussed with you so that you understand the reasons (risks and benefits) and can make a decision based on your personal preferences.
St. John’s Labour Ward Facilities
Watch a video tour of the St. John’s Labour Ward here.
The Labour Ward has nine birth rooms and a full range of birth aids and monitoring equipment. Click here for more details.
- Three of the birth rooms have a birthing pool.
- All the rooms have ensuite facilities (toilet and walk-in shower with seat).
- You will have access to equipment such as birthing balls, peanut balls and ballet barres should you wish to use these. If you’d prefer to bring your own birthing ball, you are welcome to do so.
- Each birth room has access to a full range of monitoring equipment should it be required to monitor you and your baby during your labour and birth.
- There is a maternity theatre available within the labour ward.
- Should your baby require assistance at birth there is a room equipped with resuscitaires a few steps down the corridor. Birth partners are very welcome to accompany the baby at all times.
The air in the birth rooms is circulated, filtered and refreshed continuously as the windows do not open. We can provide free-standing fans when needed. You can bring your own hand-held fan and cooling sprays if you wish to do so.
We are in the process of ordering floor mats for the birth rooms. In the meantime, you may want to bring your own floor mat if you wish to use one.
Labour Ward Pain Relief Options
There is a full range of pain relief options available to you. Including; aromatherapy oils, gas and air (Entonox), morphine injection, remifentanil and epidural.
Meal, Snack and Drink Options
We will provide you with cool water and light snacks. You can also bring your own favourite snacks to sustain you during your labour.
Should your birth partner need food or drink, there is a WHSmith shop and a café open during daytime hours (near the main entrance to the hospital). There are also vending machines around the hospital.
After your baby is born
After you have had your baby, you will spend the first few hours being cared for by the midwives in your room on the labour ward. After that time, you and your baby will be transferred to the postnatal ward for ongoing care.
Dads and partners can stay on the postnatal ward to support the mother at all times, including overnight. However, it is important to know that meals are not provided for them and there are no beds or showering facilities for partners on the postnatal ward.
If all is well with you and your baby and no further checks or monitoring is required you may be able to go straight home from labour ward when the time is right and appropriate for you and your baby.
Phone number of the postnatal ward (ward 11) is 01506 524 111
Finding the Labour Ward
The Maternity Unit is located at St John’s Hospital (Howden Road West Livingston EH54 6PP.) When you arrive at the entrance to the labour ward, please ring the bell located to the right-hand side of the door and a member of the team will come and greet you.
When arriving at St John’s Hospital follow the signs to the Maternity Unit. You can park in the small car park near the entrance for a short while and later move to the main car park. Parking is free.
Contact details can be found here.
If you are over 37 weeks pregnant and you think you are in labour or your waters have broken, call Labour Ward (24hrs) 01506 524 125
If you are less than 12 weeks pregnant and are concerned about abdominal pain or bleeding, call the Early Pregnancy Unit 01506 524 015
If you are over 12 weeks pregnant and have urgent health concerns requiring same day assessment (vaginal bleeding or reduced movements of your baby) call Labour Ward (24hrs)
01506 524 125
If you have an emergency of a life-threatening nature, call 999 for an emergency ambulance.
