About Oxford Spires Birthing Centre
The Oxford Spires Birthing Centre is an integrated MIdwifery Led Unit based on Level 7 of the Womens Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
Oxford Spires Birthing Centre Description
*The Spires Midwifery Led Unit (MLU)
The Spires Midwifery Led Unit is on Level 7 of the Women’s Centre at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Midwives and support staff in the Unit offer care during labour and immediately after birth for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies. All care is led by midwives.
*What is the purpose of the Spires MLU?
When healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies plan to have their babies in a midwife-led setting, such as a birth centre, it is shown to be equally safe for mother and baby. Women have fewer interventions and more normal births (Birthplace 2012).
Women who come to the Spires MLU to have their baby will be offered a personal and family-centred service. There will be a strong emphasis on skilled, sensitive and respectful midwifery care.
Our aim is to provide a safe, relaxed and informal environment for you. We encourage normal childbirth by recognising, respecting and safeguarding normal birth processes.
We do not offer epidurals, or care for women with medical complications, although we can care for you if you are booked for postdates induction of labour (IOL) and have started labouring after having the first gel. Midwives are trained to deal with any unexpected emergencies and will monitor you and your baby regularly throughout labour. If complications develop, or if you request an epidural, you will be transferred to the John Radcliffe Delivery Suite where you will be seen by a doctor.
*Facilities
The Spires MLU has three birthing rooms, each one with a birthing pool. Our aim is to provide a comfortable and relaxed, home-from-home environment. The rooms contain a range of bean bags, birth balls, mats and other equipment such as birthing chairs to help you feel comfortable and help with your labour and birth. Partners and /or birth supporters are welcome within the unit. We will try to work with everyone present so that you have a positive birthing experience.
*Working with Labour
The birthing rooms at the Spires MLU are designed to help you relax. Relaxation encourages the release of your natural pain-relieving hormones. We can also provide additional support such as TENS, wheat bags, aromatherapy, massage, water, gas and air and /or meptid (an injection). You will be encouraged to labour in whatever position you feel most comfortable in, making use of the furniture and birth equipment in the room.
*Postnatal Care
Staff in the Spires MLU are committed to helping mothers breastfeed their babies and will help you to learn this skill. They will also provide individual support to mothers who choose to feed their babies with infant formula.
*Going home
We expect that you will be ready to go home between 2 and 24 hours after the birth of your baby.
Your baby must travel in an appropriate car seat—this is a legal requirement. Please make sure you bring the baby’s car seat with you when you come into the unit.
After you go home your community midwife will continue to support you with visits and phone calls.
*Choosing to have your baby in the Spires MLU.
You may choose to have your baby in the Spires MLU under midwifery care if you are healthy and your pregnancy has been straightforward.
Please discuss your birth place options with your community midwife or your Obstetric Consultant.
http://www. ouh. nhs. uk /patient-guide /leaflets /files /121113birthchoices. pdf
Antenatal appointments at the Spires MLU
36 week antenatal appointments here on the Spires MLU can be booked by women who live in Oxford City or Witney. You can phone us directly to book this or do this through your community midwife at 34 weeks. At this appointment the midwife will do a full antenatal check and discuss how to prepare for the birth of your baby.
*Antenatal Forum
If you are considering having your baby on the Spires MLU we run informal monthly sessions where we answer questions about the Spires MLU and discuss how to prepare for the birth of your baby. This may be particularly helpful if you live outside of Oxford city or Witney.