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:
- Midwife-led unit, Brook: 01473 703021
- Consultant led care: 01473 703334
- Home birth: 01473 703334
Booking self refer here - Let a midwife know you’re pregnant
Location
Ipswich General Hospital
Ipswich maternity
Heath Road,
Ipswich,
Suffolk
IP4 5PD
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 time | Price |
---|---|
Up to 30 mins | Free |
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
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
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”