really tragic.
i had my first one at home with a lovely privat midwife - experienced in home births. it was not really planned to have it at home. but she said we might not reach the hospital and so i decided better to have it at home than in the ambulance. still remember my husbans face
it was the perfect birth for me, my son, my midwife and even for my husband. everybody in my home country germany thought we were nuts. there is a lot of fuzz about pragnancy and childbirth in germany - too much in my oppinion.
with the second one i was confused about the article in daily mail about higher risc of childdeath with homebirths. in the end i decided to go to the midwifeled ward in st thomas'. the midwifes were great. i had my second perfect birth - again without any pain relief. they allowed me to bring my privat midwife, who worked as a support. it was good to know that the doctors were just around the corner. but i was also happy just to be with the midwives - i think the real experts for normal pregnancies and childbirth. the next day we took our second healthy son home.
it's so difficult to give advice about this toppic. i think you can also have a really romantic birth with candles, music and what ever in a good nhs hospitals. i recommend -if you can affort it - go for a privat midwife. she knows you and will tell the staff what you like and what you don't like. often we and our stressed husbands would say okay to everything because we don't know better. and if the ward is too busy to look after you - an issue in nhs hospital- she will be here for you.
good luck to all pregnant woman!