Poole’s Labour Ward is the centre for high-risk maternity care in East Dorset. We aim to give mums as much choice as possible in their maternity care. If you or your baby have complications, we are fully equipped to meet your needs, but we also welcome mums with low-risk pregnancies and births.
Eight en-suite birth rooms
One birthing pool
One birth room without en-suite
Who can give birth here?
This Labour Ward is the recommended option for women who are advised they are higher-risk:
Mums who have had a high-risk pregnancy in the past
Mums who have an existing medical condition
Mums who have developed a complication in this pregnancy
Mums who are having an elected C-section
Mums who wish to use epidural as a method of pain relief are strongly advised to give birth in the Labour Ward.
Pain Relief Options
Birth Facilities
We have facilities for continuous monitoring of your baby, including Telemetry (internal link), a wireless monitoring system that allows you to move around while your baby is being monitored.
We also have two theatres – these are used for caesareans, as well as some assisted deliveries (internal link).
We have a separate small ward for women who have come in for an elective caesarean (internal link) and we aim to make this process as relaxed and smooth as possible. Women who need an emergency caesarean (internal link) will usually wait in the labour ward until they are ready for theatre.
More about the Labour Ward
The Labour Ward is a Consultant-led unit, which means that there are Doctors on site to oversee the care of mums with additional medical needs. If you don’t have any complications, you will be taken care of by Midwives, and you’ll only see the Doctors if you need them. Because there are Doctors working in the unit, we can offer enhanced care to mums who need it, such as those with complex pregnancies, medical conditions, or twins or more. Some mums will be advised to have their baby in a Consultant-led unit during their pregnancy, if their team feel this would be safest for mum and baby.
After the birth
Private postnatal rooms
Private rooms are available
£175 subject to availability on the day
Provision for partners staying overnight
Partners can stay on the postnatal ward on a reclining chair
Your stay after you’ve given birth
After you have given birth you’ll be transferred to a bed in the postnatal area
Women who’ve had an uncomplicated birth usually stay for at least 2 hours after the birth
If you need additional monitoring or medical treatment, you will be transferred to the Postnatal ward. If your baby needs to be monitored or to receive medical treatment, they may be taken to the Neonatal Unit, or you may both be sent to the Transitional Care Unit.
Contact and visitor information
Contact information
Main telephone number: 01202 665511
Booking telephone number: 0300 0192327
If in labour telephone: 0300 369 0388
Visitor information
Partners
No restriction (subject to agreeing to comply with privacy and dignity rules).
Vending machines can provide hot drinks and snacks for partners.
Your own children
10:00 – 21:00
Friends and family
14:00 – 16:00 and 19:00 – 20:00
Flowers and plants are not permitted on the maternity ward.
Car parking
Women in labour
Drop off outside entrance maximum 20 minutes stay.
Partner and visitor
£1.80 per hour
Free road parking is available in some of the surrounding streets for a limited time period.
Other useful information
Accessibility
Wheelchair access to the wards and delivery suite
Limited mobility: lifts available and disabled toilets/shower rooms
Hearing problems: reception staff and some midwives can use British Sign Language
Sight problems: guide dogs allowed in the building
Learning disabilities: case loaded by the vulnerable women’s midwifery team (Family Partnership)
Autism spectrum: case loaded by the vulnerable women’s midwifery team (Family Partnership)
Neonatal care
Local neonatal unit (LNU) provides special care for newborn babies in the local area, except for those who are critically ill and need intensive care
Interpreting service
Face to face interpreting service can be booked and telephone interpreting service available out of hours. Contact the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) on 0300 0198499 or pals@poole.nhs.uk.
Prompt cards for different languages
Specialist midwifery terms
Antenatal screening
Bereavement
Diabetes
Infant feeding
Vulnerable women
Dedicated homebirth team
