St John’s Hospital Labour Ward

The labour ward in St John’s Hospital Maternity Unit has a friendly, relaxing and 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.

“I’m a passionate and dedicated senior midwife and I strive to provide individualised, holistic, respectful, and safe care. I compassionately lead a fantastic team of dedicated midwives and healthcare staff within the Labour Ward at St John’s Hospital. Our aim is to ensure a seamless maternity journey”. 

Senior Charge Midwife, Labour Ward, St. John’s Hospital

What to expect on a labour ward (also called obstetric unit)?

An obstetric unit means there is on-site access to specialist services such as obstetricians and operating theatres, as well as specialist neonatal and anaesthetic care. Midwives will provide the direct care to all women during their stay in the labour ward with access and support from medical staff around decision making and performing certain procedures.

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 during labour. 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.

What facilities does the labour ward at St John’s Hospital have?

• There are nine birth rooms available. 
• 3 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.
• There is a full range of pain relief options available to you. Including; aromatherapy oils, gas and air (Entonox), morphine injection, remifentanil and epidural.
• 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.

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.
• If there is any further monitoring or support recommended for you or your baby you will be transferred to the postnatal ward for this ongoing care. 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.

Useful to know

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.

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.

Finding the Maternity Unit

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 move your car later to the main car park. Parking is free.

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.