Between them, these maternity units have around 3500 births each year, with the majority of babies being born in Sunderland.
With a midwifery-led unit in South Shields and an obstetric unit in Sunderland, these hospitals provide general care for pregnant and labouring women, as well as more specialist support for more complicated pregnancies.
You can watch a range of videos on their Facebook page.
Early Pregnancy Assessment
This unit provides care for women between 7 and 14 weeks, who experience bleeding. Your GP or community midwife will refer you.
Antenatal Day Units
There are units at South Tyneside maternity unit and Sunderland maternity unit, where you will have your antenatal checks.
They will also provide support if you have any urgent concerns, which could include:
- your baby’s movements
- any vaginal bleeding
- waters breaking
- mental health concerns
- signs of labour
You can contact the units 24 hours a day with any concerns about your baby:
- South Tyneside Antenatal Day Unit – 0191 404 1031
- Sunderland Antenatal Day Unit – 0191 569 9181
South Tyneside Midwifery-led Unit
This unit is on the ground floor of South Tyneside Hospital in South Shields and it focuses on supporting women who want a natural birth and who are classified as ‘low risk’,
- 2 birth rooms
- 1 birth pool room
- 3 postnatal rooms
- birthing balls and floor mats
- ensuite facilities
If you need to transfer for an epidural or because your labour isn’t straightforward, you will be taken to the maternity unit in Sunderland.
Sunderland Maternity Unit
This unit provides general care for pregnant and labouring women as well as more specialist support for more complicated pregnancies.
- 11 birth rooms
- 1 birth pool room
- birthing balls and floor mats, with movable beds to facilitate active labour
- 1 operating theatre with a recovery area
- special care baby unit for babies who need additional observations and care
As with all maternity units, both of these still have to adhere to policies and procedures so it can make a difference to:
* ask questions and be involved in your care
* take familiar items in with you such as your birth ball, a floor mat, pillow
* know how labour and birth works and what can make a difference
* know more about where the challenges can be and what you might need
* communicate well with a flexible birth plan
As a birth practitioner for over 20 years, I have worked with hundreds of expectant parents, helping them to prepare for different labours and different births.
Good communication and preparation, along with knowing your options, as well as how the unit works can make a difference to your care.
With consultations, I work with parents during pregnancy, for birth and throughout life with a young family. Let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to arrange a conversation to talk about your birth and baby preparation.
an antenatal and postnatal specialist
My face-to-face consultations are ideal for parents across Newcastle & Tyneside. With Zoom sessions, I work with parents and families everywhere.
How can I help you?