Question for those that have given birth at Stepping Hill, not the Birth Centre

So I really want to use the birth centre and have a water birth. However I may have to be induced so that won't be possible meaning I'll be on the ward. I have no idea what this means, do I get my own room? I've seen they also have private rooms for £75 a night, so does that mean if I don't have a private room I'm on a ward with other women? I'd imagine you have your own room when you are actually pushing etc but what about when you're in general labour and they are just monitoring you? These questions feel so silly but I have no idea how it all works and being on a ward with other labouring women is just going to make me feel anxious and give me the opposite experience of what I want.

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I was in different rooms throughout my labour and always on my own. I wasn't put on a ward until after I had given birth. X

I was induced and was in a private room during my induction and then when in active labour I was in my own delivery room x

For my second baby, I was induced at SHH and had a private room right up until baby arrived (for induction, labour, and delivery). They do have a water pool on the delivery suite but you may not be able to use it if induced as baby would need to be monitored. I wanted an active birth so they popped me on a wireless monitor meaning I could move around in labour. My first baby was born on the birth centre which was fine. I had preconceptions about what the delivery suite would look like but I was pleasantly surprised. The midwife helped us make the room look more comfortable - dimmed lights, music, blinds closed, birthing ball, cool enough etc. it was a pleasant experience both times. Hope that helps.

Hi there! Delivery suite has all private rooms including the rooms that are used for induction. If you go to the ward postnatally then it's most likely you will be in a four bed bay. Partners can stay overnight but there are no sleeping facilities for them, only a chair. (Some recline, but most do not on the ward. The ones in delivery suite do) There are 6 side rooms on the postnatal ward which are prioritised for those with a clinical need. However if there is one free you may be able to request one. We used to have 2 amenity rooms which were chargeable at £75 per night however these are now reserved for those that are covid positive or need them for another infection control reason as they are the only single rooms on the ward that have their own bathrooms. In terms of wanting to go the birth centre it may still be possible once you are in established labour even if you are induced. If you would like an 'out of guidance' birth plan email Helen Hurren (birth centre manager)🥰

@Katy how do you go about booking the private rooms last time with my daughter we had one but it was sorted out by a family friend who worked there and I was induced so I knew when I was roughly going to have my little girl but this time is different xx

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