Ipswich: Brook Birth Centre

Equipment

Bean bags

Available

Telemetry (wireless monitoring)

Available

Reclining chair

Available

Aromatherapy service

Not provided

Birth mats

Available

TENS machine

Aavailable

Hypnobirth friendly

Available

Birth balls

Available

Dimmable lighting

Available

LED candles

Available

Birth stool

Available

Supporting rope/sling

Not available

Audio facilities for iPod/phone

Available

Pain Management Options

Entonox

Available

Morphine Sulphate (Oramorph)

Available

Pethidine

Available

Epidural

Not available

Meptid

Not available

Water

Available

After Your Birth

Provision for Partners

Partners can stay with the birthing person throughout labour and birth at anytime of the day or night.

Your Stay After Birth

After you have given birth, midwives will continue to check you and your baby for a few hours to ensure you are both well and ready to go home.
If you or your baby need a little extra care following birth, it will be recommended you both stay on Lexden the postnatal ward where you can be monitored and cared for until you are ready to home.
If your baby needs further care or medical treatment from specialist doctors and midwives they may be admitted to the Neonatal unit, or you both may be transferred to transitional care.

Contact Information

Useful Contacts

Main telephone number 01473 712 233

If in labour telephone number:

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Booking self refer here - Let a midwife know you’re pregnant

Location

Ipswich General Hospital
Ipswich maternity
Heath Road,
Ipswich,
Suffolk
IP4 5PD

By Bus

There are bus stops inside the hospital grounds, just outside the Garrett Anderson Centre (Emergency department) and on Woodbridge Road, near a pedestrian entrance to hospital grounds. Routes 2, 5, 5E, 6 and 75 stop inside the hospital grounds. Routes 63, 64, 65, 66 and the 800 Park and Ride bus stop on the Woodbridge Road entrance to the hospital.

By Car

Exit the A14 at junction 57 on to the A1189. Continue on the A1189 and follow the signs to the hospital

Visitor Information

Partner

No restrictions on partners during induction of labour or during labour and birth.

Refreshments available from vending machines, onsite café, restaurant and shops.

Your Own Children

After birth on postnatal ward 8am -8pm

Friends and Family

During labour and birth Two birth partners only

After birth on postnatal ward 8am-8pm

Car Parking

Woman/Birthing Person in Labour

Drop off only outside of entrance.

Partner and Visitor

Hospital Car Park

Length of timePrice
Up to 30 minsFree
Up to 1 hour£
Up to 2 hours£
Up to 4 hours£
Up to 5 hours£
Up to 8 hours£
3 day pass£
5 day pass£
7 day pass£

Cash and card options at pay machine - pay on exit

Other Useful Information

Accessibility

Wheelchair access to Brook, Delivery suite and postnatal ward
Limited mobility: lifts available and disabled toilets/shower rooms
BSL Service not provided but can be booked in advance
Sight complexities - Guide dogs allowed in building
Additional learning needs - supported by specialist midwifery team
Neurodivergent - supported by specialist midwifery team

Accessibility Guides

AccessAble (formerly DisabledGo) provides accessibility information to work out if a place is going to be accessible to you.

Interpreting Service

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Face to face Interpreting service can be booked. Out of hours service available through language line
Prompt cards for different languages available

Neonatal Care

Neonatal unit onsite for babies requiring continuous medical and nursing care, due to prematurity or complex needs.

Specialist Midwifery Teams

Antenatal screening
Bereavement
Diabetes
Infant feeding
Vulnerable women
Dedicated Home birth community team
Community team
Teenage pregnancy support team

Specialist Clinics and Services

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Birth debrief service
Maternal medicine
VBAC (Vaginal birth after Caesarean)
Twin pregnancy
Preterm Prevention
Perinatal Mental Health – mild to moderate

“The maternity team appreciates that every woman, baby and family is unique and will have different needs. We respect the right of the mother to make informed choices regarding all aspects of her childbirth experience”

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