The Maternity Unit at Dorset County Hospital has a happy, friendly atmosphere, with enthusiastic midwives, doctors and maternity care assistants. You will be assured of the warmest welcome if you come here for the birth of your baby.

  • Seven, large, en-suite birth rooms

VIRTUAL TOUR

Who can give birth here?

The Maternity Unit is consultant-led and caters for low and high-risk mums. Mum will be cared for by midwives with medical facilities and doctors on hand if extra support is needed.

Pain Relief Options

Entonox (gas and air)

Morphine sulphate (Oramorph)

Diamorphine

Pethidine

Epidural

Birth pool

Birth Facilities

Aromatherapy service

Birth mats

TENS machine

TV

Bean bags

Birthing couch

Hypnobirthing

Birth balls

Dimmable lighting

Birthing stools

There is a dedicated theatre for maternity cases located on the unit.

More about Dorset County Hospital Maternity Unit

For mums that need extra care, the maternity unit has 24-hour obstetrician support, along with anaesthetists should you choose to have an epidural.

If your baby has any medical issues following the birth, neonatologists and paediatric staff are available at all times.

We have a dedicated Infant Feeding Team to help you with feeding while you are staying with us. However, all staff are trained to help you feed your baby and we have full BFI accreditation.

After the birth

Provision for partners staying overnight

  • Partners are not guaranteed to be able to stay overnight, but due to the number of single rooms this can be accommodated in most circumstances

  • Partners can stay on the postnatal ward on a reclining chair if a single room is available

Your stay after you’ve given birth

  • Once you have had your baby, you will both be moved to our postnatal ward which consists mainly of single rooms so your partner will be able to stay with you overnight to support you.

    We do have two multioccupancy bays of 3 and 4 beds and for this reason we are unable to offer your partner to stay overnight if a single room is not available.

  • Women who’ve had an uncomplicated birth usually stay for 6- 24 hours after the birth

Contact and visitor information

Contact information

  • Maternity reception telephone number: 01305 254267

  • Main hospital telephone number: 01305 251150

  • If in labour telephone: 0300 369 0388

Visitor information

Partners

  • No restriction (subject to agreeing to comply with privacy and dignity rules)

  • Vending machines and outlets can provide hot drinks and snacks for partners

  • Day room with tea and coffee making facilities

Your own children

  • 08:00 – 22:00

Friends and family

  • 14:00 – 19:00

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

  • £1.70 per hour (coins only)

  • Parking permits available

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: you will have a plan of care arranged antenatally. You can be taken on a visit to the maternity unit before labour so you identify potential difficulties. There are facilities for your partner to stay.

  • Hearing problems: you will have a plan of care arranged antenatally. There are facilities for your partner to stay.

  • Sight problems: guide dogs allowed in the building you will have a plan of care arranged antenatally. You can be taken on a visit to the maternity unit before labour so you identify potential difficulties. There are facilities for your partner to stay.

  • Learning disabilities: you will have a plan of care arranged antenatally. You can be taken on a visit to the maternity unit before labour so you identify potential difficulties. There are facilities for your partner to stay.

  • Autism spectrum: you will have a plan of care arranged antenatally. You can be taken on a visit to the maternity unit before labour so you identify potential difficulties. There are facilities for your partner to stay.

Interpreting service

  • We book an interpreter to attend appointments

Specialist midwifery terms

  • Antenatal screening

  • Bereavement

  • Diabetes

  • Infant feeding

  • Perinatal mental health

  • Stop smoking

  • Teenage pregnancy

  • Multiple birth

  • Dedicated homebirth team