• Head of Midwifery and Women`s Health – Sharon Hyde, Tel: 0161 419 5559
• Maternity Office Manager, Tel: 0161 419 5280
• Maternity Triage, Tel: 0161 419 5551
• Delivery Suite, Tel: 0161 419 5553
• Maternity Ward 2, Tel: 0161 419 5284
• Birth Centre, Tel: 0161 419 5285
• Neonatal Unit, Tel: 0161 419 5520

The maternity unit is accessed easily from the Bramhall Moor Lane entrance to the hospital. Car parking facilities are available in from of the maternity unit. A car park pass can be purchased for £14 which can be re used throughout your pregnancy, these can be purchased from the Rowan Suite (near the hospitals main reception).

Visiting times

Both our birth centre and delivery suite have an open visiting policy for partners only. Other visiting times are detailed as follows:

• Birth partners 8am – 9pm.
• Afternoon visiting 2 – 3.30pm.
• Protected rest period for all women 4 – 5pm.
• Evening visiting 7 – 8pm.
• Only the pregnant woman’s children are allowed on the ward at visiting times.

We are delighted you are thinking about using our maternity services. Our experienced teams will do everything possible to ensure that you and your partner feel confident and relaxed throughout your pregnancy, birth and beyond. 

Our maternity services are provided across the whole of Stockport and the High Peak, and these are also available to anyone who does not live in the local area who chooses to use our service. You can explore our maternity and neonatal services by viewing our virtual tours.

We offer all options of care from home birth, a birth centre which offers a ‘home from home’ environment which has a peaceful, calm and quiet atmosphere. We have three birthing pools available, a fully equipped delivery suite which also has one birthing pool, obstetric, anaesthetic and paediatric back-up 24 hours a day. The suite also provides a ‘state of the art’ neonatal unit which provides intensive and special care, which some babies may require which offers excellent facilities for parents.

• Download our maternity services booklet here.
• Download the NHS Choices Birth Place decisions: information for women and partners on planning where to give birth leaflet here.
• Download our maternity private amenity room leaflet here.

We also provide facilities for the partner to stay overnight. Our new facilities include comfortable recliners so that the partner can stay at the mothers side as well as offering separate rooms which have en suite shower and toilet, television, tea and coffee making facilities, and a comfortable bed. 

You will be given a named midwife who is responsible for ensuring the care you plan together meets your needs and wishes. We will provide you with all the information you need to help you make the birth choices that are right for you and your partner, and are committed to helping you achieve a positive birth experience in whatever setting you choose.

The maternity unit has achieved the prestigious UNICEF Baby Friendly Breastfeeding accreditation in 2011, which means that you benefit from breast feeding support. If you have any specific health needs, our specialist midwives can help you every step of the way, including:

• Accessible services for women with physical or learning disabilities
• Diabetes
• Drug and alcohol problems
• Mental health
• Stopping smoking
• Young parents

We offer an evidenced based parent education programme ‘Baby & You’(2019)  which is delivered jointly with health visiting colleagues.  It is three week course which supports parenting, birth, infant parent relationships & mental health.  It also incorporates a ‘Dads Chat’ which is led by the Charity ‘Dads matters’.    

Neonatal care

Our specialist neonatal unit is on hand 24/7 to deal with complications should they arise. Acutely ill and pre-term babies are cared for by our team neonatal nurses and peadiatricians as well as specialist support from other experts.

We have 16 neonatal intensive care cots and 15 special care cots in light and spacious surroundings designed to promote emotional and physical well-being. Our neonatal team will continue to provide a transitional care service allowing babies to remain with their mothers if special care is required after birth, supported by our multidisciplinary team. Three en-suite bedrooms are also available for the support of families with babies who are unwell.

Our Neonatal Unit Neonatal Unit visiting times are different to our main maternity visiting times due to the nature of the service:

• Immediate family - parents and siblings may visit all day
• Other visitors from 17.00 -19.00

Please note that unfortunately no other children other than siblings are permitted to visit our neonatal unit.

Breastfeeding for Stockport

It’s never too early to start thinking about how you`re going to feed your baby. Today, most women in England are choosing to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. Giving your baby breast milk only is recommended for around the first six months (26 weeks) of your baby`s life. After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside other food will help them continue to grow and develop.

• Breast milk is the only natural food designed for your baby.
• Breastfeeding protects your baby from infections and diseases.
• Breast milk provides health benefits for your baby.
• Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mum.
• It’s free.
• It’s available whenever and wherever your baby needs a feed.
• It’s the right temperature.
• It can build a strong physical and emotional bond between mother and baby.
• It can give you a great sense of achievement.

Find out about the advantages and benefits of breastfeeding, and the truth behind breastfeeding myths.

Treatment for tongue tie babies

We are one of a few hospitals in the country which treats babies who are tongue tied.   Tongue tie happens when the fold of the skin that connects the tongue to the bottom of the mouth is shorter than usual. The congenital condition, which affects around 3% of babies, can lead to problems for them ‘latching on’ to their mother. We treat about 20 to 25 babies a week – with around 20 of these cases referred from other hospitals and GPs. We are also the only maternity unit in the North West that does the procedure for babies when the mother is an inpatient.

When you first learn you are pregnant you are able to access a midwife directly or go to your family doctor who will refer you to the midwife and the maternity service. Ideally we would like to see you between 8 - 10 weeks of pregnancy to provide you with some information to make your choices regarding screening tests on offer to you.

Click here to access information regarding `Screening tests for you and your baby`

If you do not live in Stockport but would like to use our services you do not need to get referred in by your family doctor contact 0161 419 5551 and a midwife will arrange an appointment for you. Get closer and explorer our maternity services by viewing our virtual tours

Maternity Tours

You and your partner can come along and have a tour of our maternity service at Stepping Hill Hospital. There is no need to pre-book as we operate these every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Meet at 6.30pm at the reception on the ground floor of the Woman`s Unit.

Parent Education Sessions

At Stepping Hill Hospital we offer parent education sessions for both you and your birth partner. At Stepping Hill Hospital we offer parent education sessions for both you and your birth partner.

A range of courses are available in the following locations:

• Abacus Children’s Centre
• Antenatal Clinic at Stepping Hill Hospital
• Bramhall Library
• Cheadle Hulme Health Centre
• North Reddish Clinic
• Woodley Health Centre

Course bookings can be made by  email - parenteducation@stockport.nhs.uk

For email bookings please state your preferred parent education session location, mobile number and expected date of delivery and you will be booked onto a suitable course. Upon receipt of your request a confirmation booking email will be sent.

Please note that any information sent by email is NOT SECURE and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is not able to guarantee its confidentiality and security, for this reason DO NOT disclose any clinical or confidential information in the email other than the basic information requested above.

Thank you for choosing to book for your maternity care at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Next steps

Your midwife will create a birthing plan with you, and arrange an ultrasound scan to confirm the date your baby is due. If you are healthy and have a problem free pregnancy you will be cared for throughout your pregnancy by your midwife. If this is your first pregnancy, you can usually expect around 10 antenatal appointments throughout pregnancy. If you have had a baby before, then this is usually seven appointments.

If you have any medical problems or previous pregnancy/birth complications then a consultant obstetrician will be the lead professional for your care and this will be planned according to your needs with support from your midwife.

Access for support and advice

You will be provided with a 24hr contact number for advice and support in between your scheduled appointments.

Maternity Services Liaison Committee

The Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC) is a group who meet regularly to review maternity services provided by Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.  The group consists of local parents (service users), midwives, doctors, antenatal teachers, breastfeeding counsellors and those responsible for commissioning local maternity services. We discuss how local maternity services are currently run, what works well and what changes would help improve the services provided.

The venue for all MSLC meetings is the ground floor education room, Women`s Unit at Stepping Hill Hospital.

The Greater Manchester  and Eastern Cheshire Local Maternity System have designed the  My Birth My Choice website to provide information about maternity services, you can visit it here www.mybirthmychoice.co.uk

Support groups for parents with perinatal mental illness:

PANDAS Support Groups

The SMILE group

HART (Healing through Art)