The Haven Birthing Suite is a midwifery-led birthing unit, providing labour and birth care to women with low-risk pregnancies.

Most of our mums stay on the Haven Suite throughout labour and birth. If you or your baby develop any complications that mean you need to be seen by a doctor, you will be transferred to the labour ward, which is University Hospitals Dorset consultant-led unit at Poole. The labour ward is just down the corridor from us – this means transfers can happen very quickly when needed, which lots of our mums find reassuring.

  • Five large and modern birth rooms

  • Three birthing pools

Who can give birth here?

Mothers who are fit and well, have no medical conditions and have a straightforward pregnancy can choose to give birth in the Haven Birthing Suite so long as they go into labour between 37+0 and 41+6 weeks.

Pain Relief Options

Entonox (gas and air)

Pethidine

Birth pool

Birth Facilities

Aromatherapy service

Birth mats

iPod dock

Bean bags

Reclining chair

Birth balls

Dimmable lighting

Supporting rope or sling

We do not offer epidurals as we are a midwife-led unit. If you decide during your labour that you would like an epidural, we can transfer you to the labour ward.

After the birth

Private postnatal rooms

  • Amenity 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

  • Once your baby is born, we will ask you to stay for at least two hours, just to make sure that you and your baby are well.

  • Mums and babies will only go home when they are both well enough, so in some cases you may need to be admitted to the postnatal ward.

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