Urgent maternity care

If you think your baby’s movements have slowed down or stopped, contact your midwife or maternity unit immediately. Do not put off calling until the next day to see what happens.

If you are concerned about your baby’s movements or you have other urgent pregnancy related concerns, you can call one of our assessment units.

A midwife will accept all pregnancy related calls from pregnant women, GPs, community midwives and other departments in the hospital. They will take a detailed history to fully assess your needs.

Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU) in Burton

The Maternity Assessment Unit cares for women from 16 weeks onwards and is situated in Queen's Hospital Burton on Ward 12 (level 1).

Telephone:   01283 593 038

Reasons for referral to MAU include:

  • Reduced fetal movements
  • Raised blood pressure or proteinuria
  • Abdominal pain or bleeding in pregnancy (if you are less than 16 weeks your midwife or GP can contact the Gynaecology department for you)
  • Labour
  • Spontaneous ruptured membranes (waters have broken)


What to bring with you:

  • Always bring your handheld records
  • Bring something to do or read in case you have to wait for results or to see the doctor
  • If it is necessary to bring a child with you, try to bring another adult to look after them whilst you are seen

The length of your stay and the staff looking after you will depend on the assessment required. You should allow 1 - 4 hours.

Appointment times are not given. Women are seen on a priority basis.

Pregnancy Assessment Unit (PAU) in Derby


The Pregnancy Assessment Unit (PAU) cares for women from 20 weeks of pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postnatal.

PAU is situated within the Antenatal Clinic, Level 1, Maternity and Gynaecology Block, Royal Derby Hospital.

Telephone: 01332 785 796


Reasons for referral to PAU include:

  • reduced fetal movements
  • raised blood pressure or proteinuria
  • abdominal pain or bleeding in pregnancy (if you are less than 20 weeks you will be cared for at the gynaecology assessment unit)
  • labour
  • spontaneous ruptured membranes (waters have broken)
  • community midwife referral for growth scan
  • possible infection or wound breakdown
     

What to bring with you:

  • Always bring your handheld records
  • Bring something to do or read in case you have to wait for results or to see the doctor
  • If it is necessary to bring a child with you, try to bring another adult to look after them whilst you are seen

The length of your stay and the staff looking after you will depend on the assessment required. You should allow one to four hours.

Appointment times are not given. Women are seen on a priority basis.


Please note: If you are low risk and planning to give birth at the Derby Birth Centre and you think you are in labour or your waters have broken, please call Derby Birth Centre directly. 

Telephone: 01332 789 790

Signs and symptoms of premature labour

If you think you may be going into early labour (opens in new window) (Tommys) >, try not to panic.

Call the hospital or your midwife straight away for advice. They will usually tell you to go straight to hospital, and they may send an ambulance for you.

When you think your labour has started or you think your waters have broken you can contact us any time of the day or night.


If you are cared for by the Burton team

  • If you are planning a home birth;
    Telephone: 01543 412 905
     
  • If you are planning to have your baby at Queen's Hospital in Burton,
    Telephone: 01283 593 038


If you are cared for by the Derby team

  • If you are planning to have your baby at the midwife-led centre
    Telephone: 01332 789 790
     
  • If you are planning a home birth, or to give birth at Royal Derby Hospital consultant-led labour ward
    Telephone PAU: 01332 785 796