Birth place options

At Hillingdon you can choose to have your baby:

• On our Labour Ward
• In our Midwifery Led Unit (MLU)
• At home

Labour Ward

An obstetric (doctor)-led unit of 11 single en-suite labour rooms with attached maternity theatres, recovery and bereavement suite.

Labour Ward is intended for higher risk birth or for people who choose to give birth on Labour Ward For example: people who wish to have an epidural for pain relief.

Midwives will care for you throughout your labour/birth and doctors are available to assist where necessary.

Midwifery Led Unit (MLU)

You may also have your baby on our Midwifery-Led Unit with four labour rooms based on Katherine Ward (antenatal ward) at Hillingdon Hospital.

MLU is intended for low risk birth or for people who wish to birth in a low risk area following discussion with a midwife.

For example: people who have had a previous caesarean section who wish to birth in a low-risk setting and have discussed the risks and benefits with a senior midwife.

Midwives will care for you throughout your labour/birth and are able to transfer to Labour Ward for doctor led care if necessary.

Homebirth

A homebirth would be assisted by our midwifery-led team, who are able to follow people through their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period. Homebirth is intended for low risk birth within your own home. 

For example: people with no underlying health conditions who wish to give birth at home.

Different pain relief options are available in each setting and depending on your medical and pregnancy needs, some settings may be advised for you to have your baby.

If you are out of the usual criteria for giving birth in the MLU or at home and wish to give birth in one of these settings, you are able to discuss this with our consultant midwife in our ‘Birth Choices Clinic’, speak with your doctor or midwife for a referral.