Welcome to the Maternity Unit

Being pregnant and giving birth is a unique experience, been designed especially with you, the parents, in mind. We hope to provide you with a step-by-step guide to the people, departments and procedures you will encounter within our Maternity Services during your pregnancy and baby's birth. We have tried to give you as much information as possible, but of course the midwives will always help you with any queries or problems.

Our aim is to make your stay at the West Suffolk Hospital Maternity Unit as relaxed as possible. Please also read 'The Pregnancy Book' by the Health Education Authority, given to all first-time mothers and available at bookshops.

A Bounty Pregnancy Guide is given to all pregnant women.

Telephone numbers

The above are Bury St Edmunds numbers, code 01284

How to find us

The Maternity Unit is situated on the first floor and can be reached from either the front or the rear of the hospital. (See also: Getting to the hospital which includes local road maps and a ground floor site plan.)

Useful information about the hospital

The section Patient Services provides detailed information about the various services provided by the hospital including catering, the patient library, hairdressing and Radio West Suffolk.

Introduction to midwifery care

All women booked to have their baby at West Suffolk Hospital are cared for by a team of midwives and midwifery care assistants. There are three teams; each one cares for women from a specific area.

It has been organised that:

Blue Team cares for women from Mildenhall, Thetford and Newmarket.

Red Team cares for women from Bury St Edmunds and surrounding villages.

Green Team cares for women from Sudbury and Haverhill.

The maternity ward is organised so that both antenatal and postnatal care can be given by the same team of midwives. Queries about whether you are in labour should be made directly to Central Delivery Suite.

We hope you will meet some of the same midwives before and after having your baby.