Croydon Health Services
Birth centres are small home from home units
staffed and run by experienced midwives, offering a
comfortable environment where you can give birth
to your baby in a relaxed atmosphere. They are
suitable for you if we expect that your birth will be
quite straightforward.
NHS Trust
Birth Centre
Information for women and their families
who are interested in using the birth centre
For more information about your
pregnancy and birth choices, visit:
www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/maternity-services
or call 020 8401 3000 ext 3169
“My care in the birth
centre was amazing.
I felt well looked after”
Frankie
For PALS (patient advice and liaison service) contact
020 8401 3210 or email pals @croydonhealth.nhs.uk
Croydon University Hospital, Birth Centre
Contact us: 020 8401 3000 ext 3169
Our birth centre
Croydon University Hospital’s birth centre is within the maternity
unit, next door to the hospital delivery suite. The birth centre
offers sensitive, individualised midwifery care to women who are
anticipating a straightforward birth, during their labour so they can
give birth to their babies in a relaxed home from home environment.
Women are encouraged to move around through their labour,
supported by skilled midwives and their birth partners.
Birth centre facilities
Your privacy is very important and all the birthing rooms have private
en-suite bathrooms which you can use during your labour.
If you have no current or previous medical problems the midwife
will recommend midwifery-led care for you, as you will not need
to see a hospital doctor during your pregnancy. This will be
continuously reviewed with you throughout your pregnancy.
We’d recommend the birth centre for you if:
If you opt to have pain relief while giving birth,
we can offer a range of options:
The birth centre is staffed by an experienced team of midwives,
who also work in the local community and the delivery suite next
door. Your midwife will support you throughout your labour and if
further medical support is needed, may recommend transferring you
next door to the delivery suite team of doctors and midwives for
ongoing care.
There are three birthing rooms, two of which have birthing pools,
and three postnatal rooms. The birthing rooms also have birthing
couches, mood lighting, bean bags and floor mats, which we
encourage you to use during your labour and birth if you wish.
At the start of your pregnancy the midwife will agree with you
as to what type of care you would like based on your preferences
and previous medical and pregnancy history.
After you have given birth, our midwives will support you with
feeding your baby and help you with any questions you may have.
Evidence shows that women who give birth in a relaxed, nonmedical environment, supported by a dedicated midwife, require less
pain relieving drugs, and are more likely to progress through labour
to achieve a natural birth.
The beautiful facilities offer families a relaxed environment where
you can start your journey into parenthood.
Is the birth centre the right choice for you?
We encourage your family and friends to come to the birth centre
to support you during this special time. There are no restrictions
on visiting times as we want you to celebrate your birth with those
who are close to you. Your birthing partner can also stay with you
overnight after your baby is born, if you aren’t ready to go home.
Your children are also welcome to visit the birth centre, but we
are not able to accomodate children to stay overnight.
Lisa, Sina and baby Neo
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Have an uncomplicated pregnancy
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Birthing pools
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Are 37-42 weeks into your pregnancy
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Active labour positions, using birthing balls,
mats and bean bags
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Your BMI2 is less than 35 at the start of your pregnancy
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You are more than 16 and less than 40 years of age
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Gas and air (Entonox)
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You are not anaemic (iron level is more than 100 grams/dl)
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Pethidine injections
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Your baby has developed normally and is head down
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Massage
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Your waters break and are clear in colour
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Hypnobirthing techniques are welcomed
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Your labour has started naturally
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Women can also opt to bring their own TENS1 machine
If you think the birth centre is the best place for you, please discuss
with your midwife. There will be some women who may not
meet all of the criteria but would still like to have their baby in the
centre. In this case, speak to your midwife and we can ensure you
receive the right advice to make the choice that’s right for you.
Research shows that personalised continuous support from a midwife
during labour means that women as less likely to request an epidural
for pain relief. However, if you feel you would like to request an
epidural, we do offer epidurals on our delivery suite.
“The Birth Centre is a hidden gem”
Frankie
Midwife Heidi with Frankie and baby Enzo
“The facilities are superb and we
appreciated being given time and
space with Tabitha in the
first few hours” Hannah
1 A TENS machine is a small electronic device that helps women in labour with their
contractions. Women are welcome to use their own TENS machine, but we do not
offer these on site.
Supervisors of Midwives are also available to discuss any
concerns or questions about choices available to you. Supervisors
of Midwives can also be reached by contacting the hospital
switchboard on 020 8401 3000.
If you would like to give birth in the birth centre you can speak to
your midwife, or telephone the birth centre on the number shown
on the front of this leaflet and arrange a tour of the facilities.
2 BMI stands for ‘Body Mass Index’ and is calculated using your weight and height.
You can find out more about this and calculate your own BMI at: www.nhs.uk/bmi
Hannah and baby Tabitha
Croydon Health Services
If you have a straightforward pregnancy and both
you and the baby are well, you might choose to give
birth at home. In Croydon the midwives who
will support you are known as ‘The Crocus Team’
NHS Trust
More about homebirth
www.homebirth.org.uk
www.rcog.org.uk
www.nhs.uk
Homebirth Service
Information for women and their families
who are interested in home birth
For more information about your
pregnancy and home birth choices, visit:
www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/maternity-services
To speak to a midwife from the Crocus Team
contact your local community midwife
or call 020 8401 3000 ext 4420
You can also email:
crocusteam @ croydonhealth.nhs.uk
“I still feel incredibly
empowered by my birth
experience, thanks to the
confidence you gave me”
Sakina
For PALS (patient advice and liaison service) contact
020 8401 3210 or email pals @croydonhealth.nhs.uk
The Crocus Team
Contact us: 020 8401 3000 ext 4420
The Crocus Team
Is a home birth the right choice for you?
Benefits of homebirth
The Crocus Team offers a personalised home birth service that puts
women and their families at the centre of our care. This exceptional
service is provided by a team of passionate, highly motivated
NHS midwives with expert knowledge and experience across all
aspects of pregnancy, birth and postnatal care whilst specialising in
homebirth.
At the start of your pregnancy the midwife will agree with
you as to what type of care you would like based on your
preferences and previous medical and pregnancy history.
There are many benefits to having your baby at home,
which include:
If you have no current or previous medical problems the
midwife will recommend midwifery-led care for you, as you
will not need to see a hospital doctor during your pregnancy.
This will be continuously reviewed with you throughout
your pregnancy.
The Crocus ethos believes that birth is a natural process. If you think
that you would like a home birth contact the Crocus Team midwives
for a discussion and they will offer you all the advice you need
to make a decision. Home births are normally recommended for
women who expect to have a normal birth and have no history
of complications with previous births.
We’d recommend having your baby at home if:
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Continuity of midwifery care
(pregnancy, birth and post natal)
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Personal one to one midwifery care
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Normal natural birth
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Enhanced family experience and bonding
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Happy birth memories
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Have an uncomplicated pregnancy
Individualised birth plans
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Are 37-42 weeks into your pregnancy
Expert home birth advice
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Midwife supervisors are also available to discuss your birth plan,
and answer any questions.
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Your BMI1 is less than 35 at the start of your pregnancy
A dedicated midwife for you,
with direct mobile phone access
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You are more than 16 and less than 40 years of age
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24/7 service
Croydon University Hospital supports home births for women
with uncomplicated or low risk pregnancies, particularly for those
who have previously had a baby.
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You are not anaemic (iron level is more than 100 grams/dl)
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Relaxed and familiar surroundings
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Your baby has developed normally and is head down
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Reduced medical interventions
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Your waters break and are clear in colour
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Improved breastfeeding success rates
Planning a home birth
If you choose to give birth at home, your Crocus Team midwife will
arrange to meet with you at a place and time to suit you, usually in
your home. You will be given a ‘named midwife’ who will provide
care for you and your family throughout your pregnancy, labour and
postnatal period. You can feel confident that you, your partner, and
family will be supported and cared for by a midwife that you know
and trust.
You and your midwife will develop a comprehensive birth plan that
is tailored for you. You can also call them for additional advice and
support. Two Crocus Team midwives, whom you will have met
during your pregnancy, will be on hand to attend your homebirth.
Midwide Cecile with Scott and Leo
If you are unsure whether having your baby at home is the
best place for you please discuss with your midwife. There
will be some women who may not meet all of the criteria but
would still like to have their baby at home. In this case, speak
to your midwife and we can ensure you receive the right
advice to make the choice that’s safe for you.
If you’ve had a baby before without
complications in pregnancy or whilst
giving birth, then a home birth can be
as safe as a hospital one
1 BMI stands for ‘Body Mass Index’ and is calculated using your weight and height.
You can find out more about this and calculate your own BMI at: www.nhs.uk/bmi
The Crocus Team midwives offer much of
your care at home
The Birth Place study (2011) shows that having a baby at home
is as safe as a hospital birth for those who have previously had
a straightforward pregnancy and labour. Find out more about
this study at: www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace
Baby Ethan, born at home