Mowbray Active Birth Unit

Active Birth Unit
Mowbray Maternity Hospital, Cape Town

The Active Birth Unit (ABU) is now a Cape Town option for natural childbirth. This is a managed, safe and comfortable environment for active labouring. If you are not aware of active or natural childbirth please do consult a midwife (some listed below).

The ABU has a number of warm spacious rooms, each with a double bed, big bath, soft lighting (with dimmers), CD player, air-conditioning and appropriately decorated to make it a homely environment.

Active Birth: "Active birth enables a labouring woman to respond naturally and instinctively to her birthing process and to make appropriate choices. Women are encouraged to remain mobile and upright and to adopt the position of their choice during labour and birth and unnecessary restrictions and procedures are minimised. Fundamentally it is an attitude of respect and support for the labouring woman and her family."

The mission of the ABU: The Active Birth Unit aims to offer the highest quality of care during birth to women with normal healthy pregnancies, based on the best evidence available.

Recognising that birth is a profound experience for a woman and her family, this midwife-led service, in co-operation with Mowbray Maternity Hospital, is committed to providing continuity of care which is sensitive to the wishes of the pregnant woman who chooses to use this service. She will be encouraged to be an active participant.

At all times the midwives utilising this facility will practice within the legally defined framework for midwifery practice.

The following list contains those private midwifes that have been accredited to use the ABU:

Midwives Inc. - 021 465 0346

Sandy Standish - - 083 657 8829

Birth Options - 021 762 4138

Kate Christie - - 082 894 5934

Glynnis Garrod - - 082 894 5934

Susan Lees - - 082 321 0177

Ciska van Straten - - 073 452 0952 - 021 447 6684

Birthrite - 021 447 4143

Marianne Littlejohn - Birthrite - - 082 498 7622

Lydia du Toit - 083 457 5270

Individual practice

Karen Clarke - - 082 639 5954 - 021 782 3764

Jenny Visser - - 082 508 5842

Robyn Sheldon - - 076 8886551

Natasha Stadler - - 082 5387707

The ABU is managed by a Board, click to see Terms of Reference.

Download the pre-registration form here

See the email announcement posted to GPs in the Western Cape

Cape Times news - Dec 24, 2002

Individual practice
This website is dedicated to Joy McPherson, a midwife who was instrumental in establishing the ABU in Cape Town. Joy passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2007 after a short and severe illness. We all love and miss her.