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The maternity unit has a friendly, relaxing and welcoming environment. The services provided within the maternity unit are currently under review and at present the unit provides a midwife led service for women during labour and birth. This means it is run by a team of midwives, maternity care assistants and health care support workers who provide care and support you throughout your labour and in the early days following the birth of your baby.
What facilities does the unit have?
- There are four birthing suites.
- All the rooms have an en-suite shower and toilet.
- There is one birthing pool- this is due to undergo large reconstruction to develop a larger more relaxing birth pool/room.
- You will have access to equipment such as birthing balls should you wish to use these. If you’d prefer to bring your own birthing ball, you are welcome to do so.
- There is a range of pain relief options available to you including; TENS machines, the birthing pool, gas and air and morphine injection.
- There is a neonatal resuscitaire in each room should your baby require assistance at birth. This allows you as parents to remain near your baby and keep you included in their ongoing care.
- If you or your baby required additional care from medical, neonatal or anaesthetic specialists or any complications were to arise during or shortly after the birth of your baby, your midwife would recommend that you transfer to the Labour Ward at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital or on occasion Raigmore Maternity Hospital, Inverness for ongoing care. Transfer to this level of care by ambulance can take approximately 1 hour 25 minutes to Aberdeen Maternity Hospital and 45 minutes to Raigmore Maternity Hospital. You can find out more information on transfers in labour by clicking the below link.
After your baby is born
If all is well with you and your baby, no further checks or monitoring is required and the time is right and appropriate for you and your baby, you can go home directly from the birthing suite. This can be soon after the birth, should you wish. This will allow you to get to know your baby and enjoy that precious initial new family time in the comfort of your own home.
We have a postnatal area compromising of two multi-bed areas and four single rooms, if you need to remain in the unit for further monitoring or support. We endeavour to use the single rooms for your comfort but the multi-bed area may also be used if required.
The pictures on this page have been kindly shared by mums who have given birth at home in the Maternity Unit at Dr Grays
Finding the Unit
Address: Pluscarden Rd, Elgin IV30 1SN
Telephone Number: 01343 567220
If arriving during the day, please access the building via the front door and make your way to the first floor.
If you are arriving after 10pm, please come in the building via accident and emergency, which is on your left as you drive in to the grounds of the hospital.