Where can I choose to give birth?

Where you give birth is your choice and depends on your preferences, if there are any complications with your pregnancy and, in some cases, where you live. You can discuss your birth place options with your midwife at any time during your pregnancy.

With Princess Royal University Hospital, you can give birth:

• at the Oasis Birth Centre, our midwifery-led suite
• at our Delivery Suite, our doctor-led labour ward
• at home

If your pregnancy is straightforward (low-risk), we recommend you read either:

• Your choice where to have your baby leaflet – if this is your first baby
• Your choice where to have your baby leaflet – if you have had a baby before

Oasis Birth Centre – midwife-led suite

Our five midwife-led birthing rooms enable you to give birth in a comfortable environment where you can feel at home. Each room is designed to adapt to your personal requirements, giving you the control and support you need during labour and birth, including large spacious rooms, ensuite bathrooms, and calm lighting. Two of the rooms have birthing pools.

The Oasis Birth Centre is suitable if you have not had any pregnancy complications. However, if you have had complications in your pregnancy, you can still opt to give birth here if appropriate counselling has been given.

There is a four-bedded bay for postnatal care, with recliners if your birth partner chooses to stay overnight. A kitchen is also available for making hot drinks and snacks.

If you plan to give birth in a midwifery-led suite there is a lower chance of having an intervention during the birth, such as forceps or ventouse. However, if there are any problems during your labour, or you would like an epidural (which cannot be given on a midwife-led suite), you will be transferred to the Delivery Suite, which is just seconds away.

Delivery Suite (Doctor-led)

The Delivery Suite is particularly suitable if you will need closer monitoring during labour. It is also suitable if you would like access to epidural pain relief. You will be cared for by midwives and obstetric doctors. A midwife will be assigned to you at all times, and during labour will be providing care to you only.

The ward has ten private birthing rooms with ensuite bathrooms and facilities for enabling active birth, including mats and birthing balls.

One room on the labour ward has a birthing pool. This is suitable if your labour needs extra monitoring and you also wish to use water. Telemetry machines provide wireless and waterproof monitoring, to record your baby’s heart rate continuously if needed. This can help you to stay mobile in labour and to use the birthing pool while keeping your baby safe.

We have two obstetric theatres for planned and emergency caesarean births, and a three-bedded theatre recovery area if you need extra monitoring or care after labour.

Our services are provided by a team of midwives (including students), doctors, anaesthetists, and maternity support workers 24 hours a day.

If your baby needs extra support after the birth, they will be transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit, near to the Delivery Suite.

Home birth

Our home birth service is available if you live in the borough of Bromley or Bexley.

Giving birth at home is a safe option if you have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and, in particular, if you have previously had a straightforward vaginal birth and you do not have any medical complexities.

Some advantages of giving birth at home include:

• giving birth in familiar surroundings where you may feel more relaxed and in control
• you don’t have to travel once your labour has started in order to get to hospital
• if you already have children it may be easier to arrange looking after them
• a lower likelihood of interventions, such as forceps or ventouse, in healthy pregnancies

If a concern is detected during your home birth that means you will need extra support, you will be transferred to hospital by ambulance.