experience you want will enable you to get the best out of your local unit.Use the Baby Expert Good Birth Guide to compare maternity services in your area. And visit the Healthcare Commission website to find out how your local NHS trust scored

that maternity wards are becoming increasingly less safe due to a shortage of midwives. Dr Anthony Falconer, president of the RCOG said: ‘There is a perception amongst patients that they still see the hospital birth as the safer option. The use of some

's leading experts on maternity care to give YOU the chance to talk through your birth choices as well as your hopes and worries about labour.It's a not-to-be-missed chance to have a face-to-face consultation with Dr Gwyneth Lewis, the Government's Maternity

.You can have your baby in hospital or at home, or choose a home-from-home midwife-run unit, which promotes natural births. Here is a run-down of the pros and cons:Hospital consultant unit In a hospital maternity unit, care is usually shared by midwives

hospital. The Government recently announced plans to give women more choice on where they have their babies - including more access to home births.Check out our interactive Good Birth Guide before you decide. All you need to do is type in your postcode