A professional team is available to care for you during your pregnancy, labour and following the birth of your baby.

Obstetricians - doctors who specialise in maternity care.
Midwives provide complete care during normal pregnancy and childbirth.
Paediatricians - doctors who specialise in the care of babies and children.
Anaesthetists - doctors who specialise in anaesthetics and are responsible for administering epidurals.
Physiotherapists provide antenatal and postnatal exercise and relaxation advice.
Social workers provide advice and support in many circumstances.
Dieticians specialise in dietary advice.
Breastfeeding advisor provides advice and support for mothers with feeding difficulties.
Community midwives - midwives who work in your local community.
General practitioners (GP) - doctors who provide maternity care as part of their general practice.
Supervisor of midwives - A supervisor of midwives is a practising midwife who has been appointed to ensure that the care women receive from midwives is safe and of high quality. She does this by making sure that midwives are up to date and by providing them with guidance and support. You can contact a supervisor of midwives on 028 9055 0404 or email onevoice@ucht.n-i.nhs.uk

Experienced midwives and doctors staff the Maternity Unit but we also have student midwives and medical students in training. If you would prefer not to have a student involved in your care, please let us know.

Women who do not speak English can have difficulty accessing information and health care services. We can arrange for an interpreter to facilitate at booking and antenatal visits, and parentcraft sessions. This service is also available to women who are deaf or hearing impaired when communication is facilitated through sign language.

Maternity Outpatients is located on the ground floor of the building and provides antenatal care, with ultrasound scanning facilities, examination rooms and counselling rooms. Midwives and physiotherapists provide antenatal classes, which include information on pregnancy, delivery, parenting and exercise and relaxation. We also offer young mums specific antenatal care and information classes in an informal setting with small groups.

The midwives clinic is an option of care available to women with a normal, healthy pregnancy with no risk factors or previous obstetric problems. The midwife will speak to you about this option of care when you attend your booking appointment.

The Day Obstetric Unit (DOU) is situated within maternity outpatients. Women with any pregnancy concerns may attend this unit.

Young mums clinic - We have a clinic especially for women who are pregnant and below the age of 20. This clinic runs on a Thursday afternoon and offers the opportunity to have parentcraft in a small group with women of a similar age. You also have an antenatal check up when you attend. You will be offered this option of care when you attend for your first antenatal appointment at the hospital.

Perinatal Mental Health Clinic (PNMHC) – The PNMHC was setup by a team of midwives who had a particular interest in Perinatal mental health. It offers support for women who have had significant mental health problems in the past or who have developed problems in their current pregnancy. The clinic is open every Friday morning and afternoon alongside a consultant clinic which provides backup. The PNMHC has direct access to advice from psychiatric services.

Single amenity rooms can be booked for a fee and are subject to availability. When you are admitted, please let the ward staff know if you would like an amenity room. You cannot reserve a room in advance and rooms are allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

A ward based innovation called ‘The Productive Ward’ is being trialled to help release time to care for women and their babies.

The Labour Ward is located on the second floor of the unit and comprises 5 birthing rooms and 2 Obstetric Theatres.

The 16 cot Neonatal Unit is located on the second floor of the building. The unit cares for premature babies, sick babies, any baby requiring special care and those babies who may need special attention during the first days of life.

This is a new unit within the Ulster Hospital. It is a midwife-led unit consisting of seven spacious rooms, all with ensuite facilities and birthing pool. It is designed to give low risk women a homely environment in which to labour, give birth and stay until discharged home within 24 hours of delivery.

The Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit provides an integrated service with the Community Midwifery Team. This means that the hospital and community midwives work together as a team to ensure continuity of care. You will meet your community midwife in your home, an antenatal clinic, parentcraft classes, or when you have had your baby. The community midwife has an important role when you are pregnant and after you have had your baby; she can get to know you and your family and can liaise with the hospital or GP as and when necessary. If you have decided to have a home birth or a domino delivery then the community midwives will provide your care during pregnancy and birth and after your baby is born. The community midwife will hand over your care to the health visitor within 28 days of the baby's birth. The exact time when this occurs will depend on your individual circumstances.