How long will my stay in hospital be?

This may vary depending on the reason for admission, the type of delivery you have and the needs of your baby. Provided you and your baby are well you can go home straight from the Midwife's Unit.

NHS Grampian Midwives Unit

This short video is an introduction to the Midwives Unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. Here you will meet some of the staff, hear from women who have given birth there and view the facilities on offer.

What do I need to bring?

• toiletries
• nightwear
• underwear
• dressing gown and slippers
• light outdoor clothes
• supporting bra
• breast pads
• sanitary towels
• disposable nappies
• cotton wool balls
• tissues
• towels (for yourself)
• sleepsuits (such as Babygros)
• money for the payphone / Hospedia (formerly Patientline) system
• your antenatal records.

Please note that there are no laundry facilities for baby clothes or towels.

Labour and delivery - When do I come in?

• When your waters break.
• If you are bleeding.
• If your contractions are coming about five minutes apart and/or are painful.
• Refer to page 70 of your Ready Steady Baby Book.

Telephone the maternity triage telephone service on 01224 558855 for advice if you think your waters have broken or if you think you are in labour.

Please come to the main Maternity Hospital entrance where the receptionist will take your details and organise for you to be met by a member of staff.

If you are being admitted for any other reason, you come to the same reception desk and are escorted to the ward area.

Keeping in touch

It is natural that friends and family will be anxious to know of your progress and to hear news of your baby's birth. You can give them your very own Hospedia (formerly Patientline) telephone number so that they can contact you at any time. This also helps to keep the hospital telephone lines clear for priority calls.

Unauthorised photography, filming or recording

Visitors during labour

In the interests of security and privacy for all women, women in labour are encouraged to have one birth partner. Other visitors cannot be accommodated except in exceptional circumstances.

What happens in labour?

During labour you will be looked after in a single room. A midwife will be responsible for your care and the delivery of your baby and she may be assisted by a student midwife. Medical staff are always at hand should their expertise be needed.

Your midwife discusses your choices with you and whenever possible these plans will be followed. Any changes recommended because of complications developing are fully discussed with you so you remain involved in the whole process.

When you have delivered, the midwife will give your baby to you to hold. It is best that skin contact starts as soon as possible, unless you or your baby require medical attention.

After delivery, if you feel able, you can have a shower before going back to the ward where you and your baby will be cared for together.

We have a limited number of single rooms. You may be in a single room for one to two days if the midwife feels this is necessary but then moved into a small ward as your needs change.

Controlling infection - how you can help

Everyone has a role to play in helping prevent the spread of Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI). NHS staff are doing a great deal, but we can't overcome these problems without the involvement of patients and the public.

How you can help - as a patient

• Don't be afraid to remind staff to wash or disinfect their hands before and after carrying out any examination or treatment

• Don't remove or touch dressings or wound areas

• Wash your hands after going to the toilet

• Ask staff if you have any questions or concerns about controlling infection

• Remind relatives and friends not to visit you if they have any signs or symptoms of illness, and ask them to read this information

If you have any further concerns please feel free to contact the Infection Control Team on 01224 550998.

Postnatal care

The aim of postnatal care is for you to recover from having the baby and to be able to care for the baby yourself. It is a time for you to get to know your baby and to practise some of the skills you need at home in the safe environment of hospital. For these reasons your baby stays beside you whenever possible. A team consisting of midwives, nursery nurses and nursing auxiliaries will be available to assist you.

Your community midwife continues to help with this process once you are home and many women now choose to spend a relatively short time in hospital.

Breastfeeding

Although breastfeeding seems natural it is a learned skill, so you may need some practice to get it right. The midwives and other staff will be available to help you. If you need further support you can be referred to the Breastfeeding Centre, which is usually open Monday to Friday mornings. This service is also available when you go home. However, we will fully support you in whichever method of feeding you choose. The Infant Feeding Policy is on display in each ward.

Safety of your baby

Please help us to keep your baby safe. Do not be afraid to challenge anyone who wishes to touch your baby if you do not know who they are. If your baby is having tests, these will be done beside your bed or you will be invited to go with the baby to observe them being done. For these reasons the baby stays beside you whenever possible.

All wards have a security entrance system. However, if you have to leave your baby alone, tell a member of staff or ask another mother to watch the baby for you.

This is a Hospital Watch site and we have close liaison with the local police.

When can I go home?

Many women now choose to go home straight from the Midwive's Unit. If you plan to do this make sure you have organised some support at home. If you have a Caesarean section and a straightforward recovery the stay is normally three to four days. Your baby will be examined while you are in hospital to make sure he or she is healthy enough to go home. When you go home your community midwife is informed and she will continue your care at home.

Neonatal Unit

If your baby is born early or becomes ill for any reason, he or she will go to the Neonatal Unit.

In the Neonatal Unit, baby's parents may visit at any time, and the baby's siblings are welcome. Grandparents may visit between 3pm and 8pm (for approximately 30 minutes at any one time).

Other useful information

Please see our additional information that you may find useful