Maternity

For the safety of you and your baby, we have security on entrances to areas of maternity and neonatal.

In maternity, birth partners will be issued with a blue wristband – you will need to show this to security to gain access.

In neonatal, parents will be issued with photo ID which will need to be shown to security to gain access.

There will be some changes to our usual pattern of visiting whilst we settle into our new environment.

The Winter Garden at Midland Met is located on level 5. This space has lots of seating and access to refreshments should you need it.

There is a Costa Coffee (open 7.30am – 7.30pm) and also the Winter Garden Restaurant.

In addition, there is another Costa Coffee and a Greggs (open 7am – 6pm) at the front of the hospital. Please access these by taking lift core B to level 0.

The address is

Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
Grove Lane
Smethwick
B66 2QT

Parking for visitors is available at Midland Met and is accessed from Grove Lane.

For further information about how to get to Midland Met, including using public transport, please visit swbh.nhs.uk/midlandmet

Entry to Midland Met is via level 0 and then taking the lifts or stairs to level 5 – here you will find the Welcome Centre and the Winter Garden, which has seating areas and food and drink options.

Entry to Maternity is detailed below:

From level 5

A4 – Postnatal Ward
Visitors access this by taking lift core A to level 4

C4 – Antenatal Ward
Visitors access this by taking lift core C to level 4

Delivery Suite
Visitors access this by taking lift core E to level 3

Having a baby is a natural event in life, and you should consider giving birth where you feel most comfortable and in control. You may find it helpful to talk to your midwife, or to other parents and support groups.

It’s important that you feel as relaxed as possible when you give birth, as the pain can feel worse if you are tense or anxious. When you have your baby in hospital you may use rooms with home-like surroundings or bring pillows or other items to make you feel more comfortable.

Community midwives provide care before birth (antenatal), during birth (intrapartum) and after birth (postnatal) to all pregnant women in Sandwell and West Birmingham.

When you give birth in hospital, a midwife will be with you when you are in labour. Midwives provide antenatal care in many locations, including at Aston Pride Community Health Centre, GP surgeries and children’s centres (family hubs). Postnatal care can be provided at home, in a nearby clinic or over the phone.

Learning about being a parent and preparing for birth are important parts of pregnancy, so we provide a range of sessions to help you. Groups meet weekly either in hospital, health centres or children’s centres and discuss pregnancy, birth and childcare. Each meeting lasts about two hours, and covers topics like:

• Preparing for birth
• Pain relief during labour
• Infant feeding and baby care
• Financial benefits and child development.

Additional sessions are provided for women and their partners who are expecting multiple births, for teenage mums-to-be, for those with special needs, or women who need one-to-one support. Sessions are also available for women who do not speak English.

Following the birth of your baby, all parents who attended antenatal classes are invited back for a reunion.

During your pregnancy you will have blood tests at various stages to check on your health, and that of your baby. You will be given information leaflets beforehand that explain the tests, and you can also discuss them with your midwife before accepting them. See patient information section for more details.

In the Day Assessment Unit we care for women who need extra care. This allows us to monitor patients closely but without having to admit them into hospital. The number of visits will differ for each person, according to their needs. The Day Assessment Unit is at the maternity unit, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Opening hours are 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

The Delivery Suite provides a comfortable environment for you to give birth in. A midwife will take care of you throughout your labour. You will find birthing balls, mats, birthing stools and other equipment that enables you to remain active during labour.

Here you will receive continuous combined care from a midwife and obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and childbirth) if needed.

On arrival to our maternity unit, you will go through to our triage, where you will be assessed by a midwife to see whether you are in labour. If you are, you will be admitted to the Delivery Suite. If not, a decision will be made by a doctor or midwife as to whether you should remain in hospital or return home. If you’re not in labour or if you are in early labour, you will probably be much more comfortable at home relaxing and sleeping when you can. You can always ring up for advice and assessment when to come back.

A room with a birthing pool is available.

The Serenity Midwifery Birth Centre at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital is run by experienced midwives and for low-risk births. They offer a comfortable environment and  near to the delivery suite but is not part of it. The facility looks and feels homely – not like a hospital – helping you to relax.

Midwives offer support, encouragement and care for women who have a normal labour. This includes offering different ways to cope, such as trying different positions, relaxing, using water, or aromatherapy. You may eat and drink light food and move around as you feel comfortable. You should be able to go home within a few hours after giving birth.

Women who use Serenity find they need less pain relief and are more likely to have a normal birth.

The birth centre does not provide epidurals (powerful anaesthetics) or provide caesarean sections.

Following birth we try to make sure that all mothers have time with their newborn baby as soon as possible. This applies to all births including those born by caesarean section. Your midwife will discuss this with you during your labour.

After you have had some time to recover in the delivery suite, you will be prepared for going home. If all is well you can go home within as little as six hours, but certainly on the same day. If you had a complicated labour or a caesarean section we may ask you to stay longer. If this is the case you’ll be moved onto our postnatal ward. You will be checked over by a doctor or midwife before you go home.

Your baby will be offered a hearing test, although you can return to have this done later. Sometimes babies need immediate vaccinations (injections to protect against disease) or other tests, and these will all be arranged.

The Neonatal Unit looks after ill or premature babies. For more information go to http://www.swbh.nhs.uk/services/neonatal-unit/.

• Choosing where to give birth to your baby (Bengali Translation)
• Labour, What happens and how it can be managed (Bengali Translation)
• Your antenatal appointments (Bengali)

• Choosing where to give birth to your baby (Polish Translation)
• Labour, What happens and how it can be managed (Polish Translation)
• Your antenatal appointments (Polish Translation)

• Choosing where to give birth to your baby (Punjabi Translation)
• Labour, What happens and how it can be managed (Punjabi Translation)
• Your antenatal appointments (Punjabi Translation)

• Choosing where to give birth to your baby (Urdu Translation)
  
• Labour – What happens and how it can be managed (Urdu Translation)
• Your antenatal appointments (Urdu Translation)