Supporting your birth at Newham Hospital

Our Newham Hospital birth centre is staffed entirely by midwives and provides a relaxed home-like environment for labour and birth for those who have had a straight-forward pregnancy.

All of our birthing rooms have an en-suite bathroom, fixed birthing pools, a double bed, flat screen TV, and natural birthing aids such as a stool, a sling and a birthing ball.

To help you cope with labour we offer pain relief options such as use of a birthing pool, gas and air (Entonox) and Pethidine. You can also bring your tens machine with your if you wish. Epidurals for pain relief are not available. 

Who can use the birth centre?

Pregnant women who have had a straight-forward pregnancy with no medical problems and/or no problems in a previous pregnancy or labour can use the birth centres.

We welcome women from across Newham, Barking and the surrounding London boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Havering and Redbridge. We are also very happy to care for women from other parts of London and Essex.

Where is the birth centre located?

The Newham Hospital Birth Centre is situated on the 1st floor, zone 2, Newham Hospital. To learn more about the centre, you can call the team on 0207 363 8778.

Our delivery suite is purpose-built with dedicated professionals available 24 hours a day to ensure that you and your baby are cared for during your labour and birth.

We have 15 labour rooms including a high-risk bay and a room with a birthing pool. All rooms are equipped with birthing aids such a birth balls, stools and bean bags to encourage an active labour. 

The suite also provides a full range of options to cope with birth including a birthing pool, gas and air (Entonox), Pethidine, and epidural.  It is staffed and equipped to deal with all situations, in particular where medical intervention may be required for you and/or your baby.

Who can use the delivery suite?

If your pregnancy has not been straightforward, then you are likely to have your baby in the delivery suite, although you can still choose to have your baby in the delivery suite if you have had a straight-forward pregnancy.

Our delivery suite is located on the 1st floor, zone 4, Newham Hospital. To find out more about it, call the team on 020 7363 8137 or 020 7363 8737.

If you have a straight-forward pregnancy you have the option to give birth at home. You will be cared for by our team of community midwives.

Who will attend a homebirth?

Two midwives will attend your birth, to support you and keep you comfortable. They will be able to suggest a variety of labour techniques suited to you, ensuring your experience is a positive one.

If you would like a home birth or more information, please discuss this with your midwife. This decision will be discussed again with you at 34 and 36 weeks to ensure your pregnancy is still straight forward and that you would still like a homebirth. 

Will any equipment be provided?

Our midwives will support you if you choose to use a birthing pool at home. If you wish to use a birthing pool, there a number of companies where one can be hired for a fee. Please speak to your midwife if you would like us to support you in having a birthing pool during your homebirth.

Gas and air (Entonox) will be available if you need it, and can be used alongside other natural methods to help you stay relaxed and calm during labour. Please note epidurals are not available at a homebirth. 

What happens if there is an emergency?

While few emergencies in childbirth are immediately life threatening, if there is an emergency during your homebirth, your midwife is trained to respond. If we agree the safest thing to do is transfer you to hospital, we will call an ambulance.

What if I just change my mind when labour starts?

Nothing is set in stone! When you go into labour we’ll come and visit you at home to see how you’re doing. At this stage you can decide whether to stay at home or go to a birth centre or hospital.

We have specialist clinics for women who require additional healthcare during their birth experience.  Appointments for these clinics are made via your midwife or obstetrician.

Multiple pregnancy clinics

These clinics are run by specialist obstetric consultants who provide care and advice to mothers who are excepting two or more babies.

Vaginal birth after caesarean clinic (also known as VBAC)

This clinic provides advice to pregnant mothers regarding their birth choice, following their previous baby being delivered by caesarean section.

Birth afterthoughts clinic

This is an opportunity for our consultant midwives to meet with women to discuss birth experiences and plan their birth choices.