Where to give birth in Stockport and the surrounding areas: What are my options?
If you’re planning your birth in Stockport you may be wondering, ‘what are my options?’, or perhaps you’re thinking, ‘everyone just gives birth in hospital right?’.
I have put together some information for you here to help you decide on where you’d like to give birth. We’ll take a look at home birth, birth centres and hospitals, with a reminder that wherever you choose to give birth is up to you.
Home Birth
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Who is home birth for?
Home birth is an option for anyone who is planning to give birth vaginally. People who would like to be more in control of their environment, are planning a physiological birth, or who have sensory issues or feel overwhelmed by a hospital environment may particularly benefit from giving birth at home. You may feel more comfortable giving birth at home, and you have more control over your environment. This means that you can create a space that’s perfect for the promotion of oxytocin (the main hormone at work during labour).
Stockport home birth team
The Stockport home birth team has a well-established service. The team is highly experienced in home birth care and they regularly train for obstetric emergencies at home. They also run a monthly home birth evening at Stepping Hill where you can meet some of the team and ask questions. Follow Better Births with Stockport and the High Peak on Facebook for updates on the next session.
Community midwives in Stockport are on call 24/7 for home births. In most cases, two midwives will be present, and there will always be at least one midwife who is experienced in home births. In the unlikely event that no midwife is available to attend, the birth centre will be offered as an alternative.
Who can attend my home birth?
It is your right to birth where and how you want and to have present whomever you feel comfortable with. You may choose to have a free birth (a home birth without midwives or other healthcare professionals), a home birth attended by NHS midwives, or you may choose to hire an independent midwife who works outside of the NHS.
There is also the option to hire a birth doula, someone who is not a healthcare professional but who is knowledgable, experienced in supporting people during pregnancy and birth, and in advocating for them during labour. Most doula’s will attend your birth wherever you choose to give birth.
Birth Centres
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What is a birth centre?
Birth centres, also known as midwifery-led units, are places in which you can choose to give birth as an alternative to the delivery suite. They are usually very close to the maternity ward but tend to be quieter, calmer and are run by midwives rather than consultants. A birth centre can be a lovely option if you’re not sure about a home birth but would prefer a less clinical environment.
The aim with birth centres is to create an environment that is more conducive of promoting oxytocin as opposed to a typical hospital environment. On the birth centre you’ll have access to gas and air and pethidine. You may wish to use hypnobirthing or active birth techniques and positions. Some birth centres offer alternative therapies such as aromatherapy.
In the event that you decide you would like stronger medications or if there are medical concerns, then you can transfer to the delivery suite. At Stockport birth centre this is a very short journey down one floor in a lift.
Who can give birth in the birth centre?
Although birth centres are aimed at low-risk pregnancies, you can speak to your midwife about giving birth in the birth centre if you have been told you are high-risk, as the reasons for the high-risk label vary from person to person. You can have up to 2 birth partners, one of which can remain with you for your whole stay in the birth centre.
Where is there a birth centre near me?
Not all hospitals have a birth centre however, in Stockport we are lucky to have Stockport birth centre and not too far away in Wythenshawe we also have Manchester birth centre.
Stockport Birth centre has 4 rooms, 3 of which have a birth pool. Manchester Birth centre has 5 rooms, all of which have a birth pool.
Other birth centres in the Greater Manchester area include the Bluebell Birth Centre (North Manchester Hospital), The Royal Oldham Hospital Birth Centre and Ingleside Birth & Community Centre (a stand-alone birth centre in Salford).
Can I see what the birth centre is like before I make my decision?
Most hospitals offer in-person tours of the facilities, including the birth centres, so that you can see what they’re like before you choose the option that you prefer. You can view Manchester birth centre via a virtual tour here.
You can also find both birth centres on instagram:
Hospital Birth
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Who can give birth in hospital?
Maternity units in hospitals are consultant-led and are designed for high-risk pregnancies, medical complications or for if you request stronger medications or an epidural. It may also simply be your preference to birth in hospital.
Maternity units have private rooms for giving birth (delivery rooms), theatre rooms for surgical procedures such as caesarean birth, and maternity wards.
The maternity ward is where you may be if you are in the earlier stages of labour, you’ve consented to an induction and you’re waiting for labour to progress and being monitored, and usually where you will be after you have given birth.
Delivery rooms are primarily for established labour and where you will most likely meet your baby for the first time if you birth vaginally.
Sometimes a private room may be available for the entirety of your hospital stay upon request and depending on availability.
Can I choose any hospital for my place of birth?
Yes, you have the right to choose the hospital in which you choose to give birth. This may be the one closest to where you live or it may be a hospital further afield where you feel more comfortable.
In Stockport we have Stepping Hill Hospital, and on the border with Manchester, we have Saint Mary’s at Wythenshawe Hospital.
Other hospitals in Greater Manchester that might be near to you include Macclesfield, Tameside and St Mary’s Manchester (Oxford Road).
Where will I give birth in the hospital?
The delivery suite at Stepping Hill Hospital is situated on the 3rd floor of the Women’s Unit. They have 9 delivery rooms (one of which has a birth pool) and 2 obstetric theatres.
At St Mary’s Wythenshawe Hospital the delivery suite is located through Entrance 13 on Floats road. They have 11 delivery rooms (one of which has a birth pool) and 2 obstetric theatres.
If you are having a planned caesarean birth, or in the event that you consent to an unplanned caesarean birth, this will take place in one of the obstetric theatres. Depending on the urgency of the situation you may be waiting for a while on the maternity ward. After birth you will have a short stay on the recovery ward before being transferred to the postnatal maternity ward.
How long might I stay in hospital for after giving birth?
If you have a vaginal birth in hospital you could be discharged as soon as several hours after birth, or up to 1 day if there are no concerns for you or your baby.
If you have a planned caesarean birth you will often be discharged the following day, with an unplanned caesarean birth this may be closer to 2 days.
Each birth experience is unique and you may be in hospital for longer if you and/or your baby would benefit from medical care.
Can my birth partner stay with me?
Your birth partner can stay with you the entire time however, they will often be asked to leave the ward at night. This may be due to how busy the ward is, or it may be advised that they get some rest. There are no beds for birth partners but there is usually a reclining chair.
The hospital staff may be more accommodating of birth partners staying overnight when you are in a private room. It will depend on how birth unfolds, where you are in the hospital, and your preferences as to whether you request that your birth partner stay with you for your whole stay or they go home and return the following day.
Your body, your birth, your choice
Photo by Camylla Battani on Unsplash
It is important to remember that where you give birth is entirely your choice and the final decision about how and where you give birth is up to you.
Learning about the physiology of birth, birth hormones, how your environment affects labour, medical interventions and how to make informed decisions are hugely beneficial in helping you to feel more prepared for birth.
Being a part of the decision-making process and knowing your birth preferences for different scenarios (having a birth plan) are associated with having a positive birth experience.
If you’d like to feel prepared, informed and confident for birth and beyond I would love to have a chat about how I can help support you, and I am always happy to signpost you to further services and resources.
