I had my very first baby at a midwife led unit. I was booked in at the big hospital as I thought, first baby, I have no idea what will happen, no idea if I'd handle the pain (you can only have gas and air and possibly pethodine/diamorphine) at a midwife unit etc. Also I wanted to be there if something went wrong.
When I went into labour I phoned the big hospital who told me to take a couple of paracetamol, have a bath go back to bed (it was arond 2am) and phone in the morning if still contracting. PPFffft, naff off Mrs.Midwife I want to be looked over NOW! It would take me 45mins to get to the big hospital so I phoned the local midwife unit to ask if they would look me over so I wasn't wasting time travelling all that way if it were nothing. She said I couldn't go in unless the big hospital OK'd it as I was booked in there. So....after a lot of phone tag and a very authoratitive husband (i love him) they finally said come in and we'll have a look at you. Got there around half an hour after the pains started and waters started to leak and I was already 7cm dialted (in your face big hospital Mrs.Midwife) so straight to the dlivery room. My back was in agony so I asked for pain relief. They refused as I was progressing so quickly they thought there was no point, they thought I would have the baby within the hour. After begging they give me half a dose of pethadine which was great and took the edge off. Anyhoo long story short (too late I know) I pushed and pushed and pushed and nothing was happening. The midwife got a bit snippy with me and said I wasn't pushing hard enough, although the piles on my butt told another story!! EVENTUALLY after about an hour and 20mins of pushing I could feel the head but it kept slipping back up. It wouldn't stay down. THe midwife said I had been pushing too long and if I hadn't delivered within the next 10 mins I was getting transferred to the big hospital for forceps delivery. I poo'd myself (thankfully not literally) and pushed harder than I thought was humanly possible and thankfully 9 mins later I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. She was an undiagnosed posterior birth which is why I was in so much back agony and couldn't bear to be on my back/bum (i spent about 3 hours on the floor on my hands and knees). The midwife apologised profusely for being so mean to me and actually gave me praise as for 75% of women that would have ended in an assisted birth/c-section. After that we got the usual tea and toast, showered and went to our room. We got a room on our own because its a smaller quieter unit which was fantastic!
2nd baby - Tested + for GBS so had to deliver in big hospital, had no choice. If I could have I would have definitely gone back to a midwife led unit. Anyhoo, I HATED IT!!! THe midwives were SO busy they almost inserted anti biotics I told them I was allergic to. Didn't listen to me when I said I HAD to push. Apparently if you've only been there for 20 mins you don't need to push?! I told hubby I was going to push anyway and my waters burst everywhere which scared the midwife a bit. 2 pushes later my baby was out. Was left for 3 hours in the delivery room waiting to be taken up to the ward. When they finally said we could go up they wouldn't let my husband come with us because it was 5am and it might disturb the other women?!?!
This time I am going for a midwife led unit and am keeping EVERYTHING crossed that I can stick to the plan this time.
Sorry for the novel but I hope this helps you somewhat.
thing is she said id have more chance of having a water birth at our midwife centre instead of the hospital the midwife centre is beautiful really relaxed and clean.... the one thing im worried about though is if for some reason something goes wrong ... they will have to transfer me to hospital.. has any of ou other ladies had your baby at a midwife centre or at home and could tell me your story to put my mind at ease 
thankyou
If there has been no problems before in your family and you go to birthing classes etc. theres no need to think something might go wrong. Waterbirth is very safe and natural.
