"Lovely midwives + acupuncture"

I had my baby at the Whittington last year, though I had planned to have a home birth. Going into the hospital mid-labour was never going to be easy, but our midwife was totally supportive and encouraging in getting us to change our plans and getting us to the hospital without crashing the car!

Though space was very limited, there was one room left where the acupuncturist would have been trying to bring our baby along had I not gone into labour that morning. This acupuncture service for overdue women is paid for from the midwives' own budget, rather than the Trust, which is admirable considering the usual money constraints.

After the birth, there was a shift change and I had to wait a while before I could be stitched up. Less good. Also, since I needed to stay in overnight, there was little help from the night staff in helping me care for this new bundle. They were even cranky when I asked for some cotton wool to change our son's nappy!

As is so often the case with the NHS hospitals, the care during the main event was brilliant, but the after-care and accommodation is not ideal. It seems a question of space and staffing shortages.

But I would recommend the home-birth midwifery team to anyone.