WE believe every birth is unique and that every birth experience should be a happy and positive event to remember.
As such we are passionate about promoting active birth so that all women feel satisfied that they have achieved their full birthing potential.
Active birth is nothing new. It's a way of describing how women the world over have always behaved during labour throughout history. It is about giving control to the mother and letting her decide what is best for her body – allowing her to move and change position freely. The first resort is always to use the mother's own instinct and natural resources with medical intervention being used as a last resort.
We know that women in active labour who are supported by a midwife see an enhancement in satisfaction levels. Active birth also decreases the need for pain relief and can lead to a shorter, more effective, labour experience.
Women and partners should feel relaxed and empowered when they arrive on our labour ward. A large part of achieving this is to make sure families are familiar with their surroundings.
Unfortunately, we can no longer offer tours of the hospital, but a DVD of the maternity units at City Hospital and QMC has been produced which can be watched in the comfort of your own home via our website.
As well as offering a full array of parent education classes, we also offer Active Birth, Active Vision classes which provide an opportunity to receive information and try out equipment in the environment in which women birth.
These 50-minute workshops are held in a labour suite at both campuses with a group of five women and their birthing partners.
The emphasis during these sessions is on how to maximise birth potential, good positions to adopt during labour and birth, and practically illustrating how birthing aids can be used.
These sessions are open to all pregnant women. Specific sessions are also provided for teenagers and women who have had a caesarean section previously.
By entering labour feeling familiar with the surroundings, it gives women confidence and a sense of control which is ultimately the best possible start to motherhood.
