Coastal Birthing Unit
Address
Clacton & District Hospital
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea
Essex CO15 1LH
Our aim at Colchester hospital maternity services the Coastal Birthing Unit is to provide individualised, high quality and safe care that meets the needs of you, your family and your baby, putting you at the centre of all we do.Wherever you choose to have your baby, we want you to have the best birth experience and we will support you every step of the way. Our team treat all women and their families with sensitivity, kindness and respect, at all times maintaining professionalism and support in order to provide a complete service to you. We are delighted to support you throughout this very special time and look forward to welcoming you and your partner to the Coastal Birthing Unit very soon.Clacton Hospital is home to The Coastal Birthing Unit where we offer a home-from-home environment which is more relaxed than the busy obstetric unit at Colchester. Our aim is to provide individualised, high quality and safe care that meets the needs of you, your family and your baby, putting you at the centre of all we do. Whilst in our care, we will provide you with evidence based information to help you make informed decisions about all aspects of your care, so that you and your family feel confident about your pregnancy, birth and parenting your new baby. We will see you regularly to care for you, give you the opportunity to meet the teams working within our maternity services, answer questions and develop a plan with you that is tailored for you during this exciting time. You have options of where to have your baby but wherever you choose, we want you to have the best birth experience and we will support you every step of the way. Our team treat all women and their families with sensitivity, kindness and respect, at all times maintaining professionalism and support in order to provide a complete service to you. At Clacton we offer a full range of midwife-led maternity services whilst also providing direct links with Colchester Maternity for those who need it. Women and their families can expect care at Clacton from early pregnancy right through to after the baby is born. Antenatal appointments are available daily, including weekends and women can choose to see either their named midwife or their team of midwives for their care. We also have 7 outlying GP surgeries which provide a weekly midwife clinic. In pregnancy we offer a range of free classes providing you with choice. We provide Hypnobirthing classes and Preparation for Labour workshops. You can book your place through your midwife. The local Health Visitors also provide monthly Preparing for Baby workshops from our location. Giving birth at the Coastal Birthing Unit or at home has many benefits: • You are more likely to be supported and cared for by a midwife you know • You are likely to be closer to home and experience fewer birth interventions • You are less likely to need analgesia for labour • We have 2 Birthing Pools available • Our midwives are committed to achieving the birth you want • We can use active birth techniques, massage techniques and breathing techniques in labour to enhance normality. The option to birth with us is available to all women who are over 37 weeks pregnant and who have uncomplicated pregnancies. You should have no significant medical or pregnancy problems. There are no doctors based at Clacton Hospital and therefore should you require specific help from the obstetric team it would mean transferring to Colchester Obstetric Unit. However, by choosing to birth at the Coastal Birthing Unit, you are already increasing your chance of a straightforward birth. If a transfer is necessary, the midwife caring for you in labour at Clacton travels with you to ensure a smooth transfer of care. Once you and your new baby arrive home you will be visited frequently by a midwife until you are both discharged to the care of your Health Visitor, this is usually after 10 day. We are delighted to support you throughout this very special time and look forward to welcoming you and your partner to the Coastal Birthing Unit very soon.Our specialist services include
The Coastal Birthing Unit offers a range of facilities:- Your own named midwife and support from her team
- Antenatal and postnatal care for all women in our area and beyond
- The option to birth with us for women with uncomplicated pregnancies
- Birthing pools for use in labour
- Homebirths
- A wide range of pain management techniques for labour
- 24-hour support available from a midwife
- A variety of free classes
- In-house scanning and blood taking
- On-site consultant clinics for those women requiring additional obstetric care
- Direct links with Colchester Hospital for seamless care