The Cove is a midwife-led birthing unit, providing labour and birth care to women with low-risk pregnancies at Dorset County Hospital’s Maternity Unit.

Providing the right environment for women to give birth in is extremely important. An obstetric led unit can be an alienating setting for some women, leading to feelings of loss of control and disempowerment. These feelings can interfere with the normal process of giving birth.

The benefit of a Midwife Led Unit is to provide a more ‘homely’ environment where women can feel relaxed, calm and comfortable.

If you or your baby develop any complications and need to be seen by a doctor, you will be transferred to the obstetric-led maternity unit. This is just down the corridor from us so transfers can happen very quickly if necessary.

The Cove has two rooms containing, birth pools with lights under the water so parents can see their baby being born, the windows have blinds so light levels can be reduced and mood lighting can be used to create a relaxing environment. A birthing ‘cube’ in each room can be used as a double bed to rest on, or changed into various shapes to achieve an upright and active birth if women do not to use the pool. Aromatherapy diffusers have an integral blue tooth speaker enabling couples to listen to their own music.

Who can give birth here?

The Cove is a midwife-led birthing unit, providing labour and birth care to women with low-risk pregnancies at Dorset County Hospital’s Maternity Unit.

Providing the right environment for women to give birth in is extremely important. An obstetric led unit can be an alienating setting for some women, leading to feelings of loss of control and disempowerment. These feelings can interfere with the normal process of giving birth.

The benefit of a Midwife Led Unit is to provide a more ‘homely’ environment where women can feel relaxed, calm and comfortable.

If you or your baby develop any complications and need to be seen by a doctor, you will be transferred to the obstetric-led maternity unit. This is just down the corridor from us so transfers can happen very quickly if necessary.

The Cove has two rooms containing, birth pools with lights under the water so parents can see their baby being born, the windows have blinds so light levels can be reduced and mood lighting can be used to create a relaxing environment. A birthing ‘cube’ in each room can be used as a double bed to rest on, or changed into various shapes to achieve an upright and active birth if women do not to use the pool. Aromatherapy diffusers have an integral blue tooth speaker enabling couples to listen to their own music.

Pain Relief Options

Birth Facilities

Your stay after you’ve given birth

If you’ve  had an uncomplicated birth, you would normally stay for at least 6 hours, in order to make sure that you and your baby are well, however if you wish to go home sooner please let us know.

If additional monitoring or medical treatment is required for you or your baby, you will be transferred to the postnatal ward/Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

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

Contact and visitor information

Contact information

  • Maternity reception telephone number: 01305 254267

  • Main hospital reception telephone number: 01305 251150

  • If in labour/any urgent queries please ring: 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