MIDWIFE-LED maternity units tend to give a better level of personal care and encourage a more natural birth.

That’s according to new mums who have used such services across the country and who are now backing our Say Yes To Maternity campaign to get a midewife-led maternity unit established at the ‘new’ QE2 Hospital once it has been developed.

Mum-of-three Jenny Pearson had daughter Beth Hardy 13 weeks ago.

After previously giving birth at a standard hospital, she searched for other possibilities and found a midwife-led service nearby and now cannot praise the service highly enough.

The Derbyshire woman said: “It was a fantastic experience, as much as you can ask for in that situation.

“I felt I knew the midwives on a personal level and midwives really do tend to give that more personal touch over.

“This time round [being at a midwife-led surgery] it felt far less clinical and for me that was important.

“I had a much better idea of what was going on, before and during the birth; I felt more in control.

“I never worried about giving them a call or anything as they were brilliant with us.

“It makes you truly trust them and that puts you at ease.”

The closest widwife-led unit to WGC is the Alexandra Birthing Centre (ABC) in Watford.

However former Potters Bar resident Catherine Walsmsley, who used and was delighted with the service seven weeks ago, believes it would be beneficial to have another midwife-led service at the QE2.

Now living in St Albans, Catherine said: “For me getting to Watford wasn’t too bad, I was lucky as it was during the night.”

“But if it was rush hour it would have been a problem for me, let alone someone living on the other side of Hertfordshire,” the 35-year-old said.

“Being at the ABC was fantastic, I would definitely recommend it. It was almost like going private, I had my own room and it was just a wonderful experience, very relaxing.

“For me it’s the option which offers the best of both worlds, you can get the emergency treatment if needed, but it really is good for the natural birth.”

Gayle Firmin, also went to the ABC.

She had son Roly early morning Sunday and was equally impressed by the midwifes treatment.

“I was really, really pleased. It makes everything that bit easier.

“You don’t really see any doctors, it’s all quite natural. Which is lovely, it’s just a shame that not all mothers get that chance if they’re on a normal ward.”

She added: “I have heard stories about the ABC being so busy that they can’t take you, so more options would be great and for me WGC might even be closer to get to; I didn’t even consider the QE2 this time though because it doesn’t have a midwife-led unit.”