Stroud Maternity is a small midwife-led centre with approximately 300 births per year. The unit is open to all women with uncomplicated pregnancies who are considered suitable to have their babies in a ‘low tech’ environment.

The unit offers eight postnatal beds, two delivery rooms and a third room with a birthing pool. Women who deliver their babies in other hospitals are welcome to come to Stroud for postnatal care and support.

Advantages

Midwives available who are skilled at helping women give birth within a ‘low tech’ environment and in caring for women planning an active birth with little or no intervention

Familiarity with alternative forms of pain relief, including use of water pool for labour and delivery

Able to advise you on the best positions in labour to achieve natural progress, along with ways your birthing partner can take a supporting role

Disadvantages

You will not be able to have an epidural

If there is an unexpected problem with you and your baby, obstetric, paediatric and anaesthetic services are not immediately available

You may have to transfer to a hospital with a consultant led service during labour. Approximately 21% of women need transfer from Stroud, usually to the Delivery Suite at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's Women's Centre. This is more likely if it is your first baby. This transfer may take time.