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| Maternity unit: Your questions answered | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| September is the busiest month for England's maternity wards, according to hospital figures. | September is the busiest month for England's maternity wards, according to hospital figures. |
| BBC News is reporting live from the maternity unit at Ipswich Hospital where staff expect between eight to 11 births by the end of the day. | BBC News is reporting live from the maternity unit at Ipswich Hospital where staff expect between eight to 11 births by the end of the day. |
| You have been sending in your questions about life on the ward, from how to become a midwife and shift lengths to traumatic births. | |
| Here are some of the answers staff at the hospital have given. | |
| How do you become a midwife? | |
| Helen Smith, a consultant midwife at Ipswich Hospital, said after gaining three A-Levels or the equivalent you need to apply for a midwifery course at university. | |
| "It's a three-year course where you will do academic and practical work to learn about all the different aspects of this fabulous job," she said. | |
| The UCAS and Royal College of Midwives websites have useful information. | |
| How long is a shift on the ward? | |
| "Our shifts are mostly 12 hours in the birthing areas," said Mrs Smith. | |
| "Some of our staff that work in clinic will work a more regular day. | |
| "We work days, nights, weekends, Christmas. It's a 24/7 service." | |
| What support is there in place for women who have suffered traumatic deliveries or birth injuries? | |
| The hospital offers a birth reflections debriefing service where women can find out more about their labour, Mrs Smith said. | |
| "We also have our birth choices clinic to help make a plan for the next birth. | |
| "It's about listening and empowering women to make sure they've got good evidence to base their future decisions on." | |
| How do staff feel maternity care could be improved post-birth? | |
| Introducing overnight stays for partners has improved feedback at the hospital, said Sharon Edwards, lead midwife on the Orwell post-natal ward. | |
| "The staff patient ratio is something we're constantly looking at to ensure that women get the best care," she said. "Obviously the lower that is the better." | |
| She encouraged patients to talk to staff about their experiences good or bad. | |
| "I'm available five days a week to listen to anyone's feedback and to add extra support to patients," she said. "If we don't know what the concerns are we can't do anything about it so please tell us." | |
| What questions do you have about the maternity ward? Use the form below to send them in and we could be in touch. |