Maternity

The birth of every child is special and here at Tameside Hospital our Maternity Unit provides support to thousands of families each year, caring for them and their babies.

Generations of midwives have looked after expectant parents and their parents too, here at Tameside Hospital in a supporting, professional and caring environment.

From the day you know you are pregnant, we will be there for you and your family, helping you choose how you want to have your baby and how you want to be cared for along the way.

Delivering babies in Tameside for 40 years, Tameside Hospital’s Maternity Unit has an excellent reputation and our results speak for themselves.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Here at Tameside Hospital we want you to have the best possible experience throughout your pregnancy.

You can choose how and where you would like to have your baby and the type of care you would like. You can discuss these first with your community midwife at your local health centre. Please ring 0161 922 4921 as soon as you know you are pregnant to discuss how to get a midwife appointment. There is no need to see your GP first.

Your choices:

Midwife Led Care

• A short stay in our midwifery-led unit
• Home birth

Hospital birth

• Antenatal appointments
• Your choice of length of stay in hospital
• Early discharge from hospital, if possible
• Private rooms available

We are committed to making your experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Staff are always on hand to provide help and advice. There is also a range of support available throughout your pregnancy to help you and your family.

Find out about

• Parentcraft workshops
• Maternity unit tours
• Home birth evenings
• Labour workshops
• Drop in clinics
• Breast feeding
• No smoking in pregnancy
• Skin to skin
• Hypnobirth

please use this link for further details.

Firstly, congratulations on your pregnancy.

At your booking history, the midwife will complete a referral to the hospital, and a booking appointment will be issued around your twelve week of pregnancy. Any concerns prior to this can be discussed with your midwife or G.P. Blood tests are performed at your first appointment with your midwife.

Midwife led care (M.L.C.)

By following a risk assessment tool, all low risk women are offered midwife led care. Previously known as the domino scheme and home births. Your named midwife will be supported by the midwife led care team leader and the other team members. This system of care is very fluid, with women who have some areas of concern, who will be reviewed by the obstetric team, and then returned to midwife led care.

Ante-natal appointments

Appointments follow n.i.c.e guidelines and will be with your community named midwife as much as possible. Any concerns you wish to discuss can be done so to your own midwife, or with the M.L.C team on 0161-922-4921. Blood tests are taken at your first appointment with your midwife, at your booking appointment at the hospital, and at your 28wk appointment. All will be discussed with you beforehand.

The booklet “Screening tests for you and your baby” provides you with important information about the screening tests that you will be offered in early pregnancy and also screening tests for your baby in their first few weeks.

The link http://resources.fetalanomaly.screening.nhs.uk/parent/screening-choices  provides more detailed information on the antenatal screening tests for Down’s Syndrome and fetal anomaly screening.

Scans

Your two scans will be the baseline booking scan, used to confirm a definite pregnancy, and to ascertain a due date. The second scan is the anomaly scan, and is a detailed scan to ensure the baby appears healthy. No further scans will be performed unless concerns arise.

Home-birth evening meeting

We are now holding a 3 monthly meeting at the hospital to encourage women to have a home birth. We invite parents who have recently had a home birth to come and discuss their experience, and we answer any common concerns regarding home birth. We have a pool inflated to view, and refreshments.

The meeting is held in the antenatal clinic, from 7-8pm. Please contact your midwife or the M.L.C office as above.

If labour starts before 37 weeks you care will be transferred to the consultants.

For any concerns ring the M.L.C office as above or labour ward 0161-922-6173/6172 to speak to a midwife.

In early labour you will be encouraged to remain at home whilst you are able to.

Tens machines, simple analgesia, birthing balls, and having regular baths are all useful. These can also be used once at the hospital.

The birthing pool at the hospital is offered for labour and delivery. Bring your own choice of music for the room, which is a very quiet, relaxing room.

We have two pools that we loan out for use at home, and we ask for a small payment for the sterile liner for the pool, which reduces the need to clean the pool. Please ask your midwife if interested in using the pool for labour or birthing.

Your baby’s heartbeat will be regularly listened to with either a pinard’s stethoscope (trumpet) or a sonicaid machine, as used by your midwife.

When attending hospital access to the wards/units is gained through the intercom system.

To ensure that mothers are given adequate rest and support on the ante-natal and post-natal wards, visitors are restricted to two (excluding partners) and are asked to adhere strictly to the daily times.  The Delivery Suite (Labour Ward) is the only exception and up to two birth partners may be present throughout labour and delivery. 

For the Neonatal Intensive Care unit where visiting hours are open, all visitors must be accompanied by a parent of the baby.

Delivery Suite

• Within the Delivery Suite (Labour Ward) up to two birth partners may be present throughout labour and delivery

Antenatal & Postnatal Wards Visiting Hours

Only 3 visitors at any one time please.  Children under the age of 12 years are not allowed to visit unless they are siblings of the baby.

• 3.00pm - 5.00pm
• 6.30pm - 8.00pm
• Partners Only Visiting: 10.00am  - 12.00pm

Neonatal Intensive Care Visiting

For the Neonatal Intensive Care unit where visiting hours are unrestricted, all visitors must be accompanied by a parent of the baby.

If all goes well during, and after  labour, you and your baby can go home  a few hours later.  If you prefer to stay in overnight this is fine.

If breast feeding for the first time we will encourage you to stay in at least overnight, as you have 24 hour support whilst feeding is established. 

A midwife will see you the day after and perform a full examination on baby.  Several midwives have undertaken a course which enables them to do this examination.   You will also be checked over. 

A drop in hearing screening test will be offered at the hospital, in the antenatal clinic, when you feel well enough to take your baby.

Further visits will be arranged between the midwife and yourself.

You can speak with a midwife 24hrs, and also arrange additional visits if you have concerns over yourself or your baby.

If booked for shared care you will be seen by a doctor at the hospital for your two scan appointments, and your midwife at your G.P. Surgery for all other appointments.