"Outstanding care-couldn't have been better"

My contractions started at 7pm friday. At 1am saturday we called the Maternity Led Unit and were asked told to hold on for a couple more hours. At 3am my husband called them back and the MLU told us to come straight in as my contractions were getting stronger and more frequent (every 3-4 mins). We arrived at the MLU at 4am. We were both greeted by a very nice and reassuring midwife who sat us both down in a very clean and comfortable examination room. A student midwife arrived within a couple of minutes. I voiced my concerns over being examined by a student (this was my first child so felt quite panicked), so she called her supervisor who then worked alongside her during the initial examination. I was just under 4cms so was not ready to be admitted. As I was close to being in active labour we were told to wait in the kitchen/dayroom (again very clean and comfortable). I was prescribed 2 codeine pills to help with the discomfort. About 30 mins later my waters broke. My husband called the buzzer and the 2 midwives arrived back. I was examined and was 4cms so was admitted. The room we were given was wonderful. Very spacious, clean and comfortable with ensuite shower/wc, birthing pool, beanbag, chair, swiss exercise ball and of course a bed. There was also gas and air lines in the room. The student (who was providing excellent care) told me to make myself comfortable and told me how to use the gas/air. She explained that every 15 minutes she would be monitoring baby's heart beat to make sure baby was comfortable At about 5.30am saturday there was a staff changeover. The excellent student midwife who had been looking after us explained that the two replacement midwives had been fully briefed about my pregnancy/labour. The new midwives spent a good while just sitting with us and reassuring me. Monitoring was done every 15mins. I used the entenox and tens macshine (we hired one) over the next 4 or so hours until the pain became almost untolerable. I was examined (i was now 8 cms) and then was given a dose of pethidine. This took the edge off the contractions for the next few hours. The midwife was still carrying out monitoring every 15mins. She was always available to offer advise on how I should be breathing and pushing when the time came. At about 3pm i was examined and was now 10cms. At 345pm I gave birth to a boy 6lbs 13oz. He was wiped down and given to me. Various members of staff came in to congratulate me and carry out their respective roles. I was given a local anaesthetic and stitched up. Unfortunately I had a mild allergic reaction to one of the injections and was kept in overnight on the labour ward (ward 23) for observation. I was moved up to ward 23 and settled in for the night. Again, the nurses and midwives on duty were very caring and sympathetic.I was struggling with breast feeding and a midwife took time to show mid how it was done. We left at 2pm sunday. I cannot thank the maternity services enough. Everyone was wonderful. x