You’ll have many choices to make when you’re pregnant. One of the most important will be how and where you choose to give birth.
Midwife Led Birth Centre
A midwife led birth centre may be a great option for you if you are having a ‘straightforward’ pregnancy. Your midwife will discuss your options with you during your antenatal appointments and you’ll develop your birth plan.
All our maternity providers in Greater Manchester can offer you the choice of giving birth on a consultant-led obstetric unit and some can give you the option to have birth at home (if suitable). In addition to this, there are a number of midwife led birth units in Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire:
- Royal Oldham Hospital
- Wythenshawe Hospital
- North Manchester General Hospital
- Stepping Hill Hospital
- Tameside General Hospital
- Macclesfield General Hospital
If you don’t want the clinical atmosphere of an obstetric unit but aren’t interested (or can’t) give birth to your baby at home – a midwife led unit might be for you.
Benefits
Giving birth in a midwife led birth unit has many benefits:
- The environment is designed to be comfy and homely.
- The privacy of a private room.
- The freedom to walk around and be as active as you like.
- The likelihood of a shorter stay because fewer medications and medical interventions are used.
- The lower risk of needing to have a c-section.
Another benefit of a midwife led birthing unit – located on a hospital site – is that obstetric or neonatal support can be provided quicker than if you give birth at home.
Our local Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership have teamed up North Manchester General Hospital to create a video outlining the benefits of their midwife led birth unit (watch above).
If you’re pregnant and interested in this option for you and your family, please speak to your midwife at your next antenatal appointment.
We’d also recommend pregnant people check what vaccines they need to get this winter to keep them and their little ones safe. Visit our winter vaccines for pregnant people pages.
Eileen Stringer, Clinical Lead Midwife said…
“Giving birth in a midwife led birth unit based within the maternity unit is an option that many people can explore when their pregnancy is uncomplicated. This option really helps to support people who want access to a more low-key environment to birth in, while also having the benefit of rapid access to obstetric or neonatal support if required. We are fortunate to have a number of birth centres based within our maternity units in Greater Manchester and the maternity team will be happy to discuss your options with you.”
