MUMS have been sharing their stories of giving birth at Trowbridge birthing unit, as the consultation into the future of the maternity provision enters its second month.

Under the proposal to change maternity care in Wiltshire, Trowbridge birthing unit could stop delivering babies.

Wiltshire Clinical Commission Group say that mums are not choosing to give birth in Trowbridge because they are worried about having to be transferred during labour. If agreed the change to service will see the unit give more help to mums with extra breastfeeding support and post natal care.

Elly Norris is 24 and lives in Hilperton. Her two girls, Vienna, 19 months, and Everly, six and a half months, were both born at Trowbridge birthing unit.

She believes that there are enough groups and support for new mums after birth and feels the unit should continue to focus on providing a place for women to give birth.

She said: “I think the after-care in Trowbridge is already really good. I think they should focus on keeping delivering births and do more promotion of the groups and breast-feeding help that is already out there.

“Whenever I went in and said I was concerned, the midwives said there was no reason that I shouldn’t give birth in Trowbridge. They encouraged me to give birth in Trowbridge. It was also really handy for me, if we lost that I’d have to drive for 30 minutes.”

Elly spent a night in the Royal United Hospital in Bath for monitoring during the pregnancy. “There was no lull in Bath, it was pretty full-on the whole time. In Trowbridge I had mine within four hours and 90 minutes respectively so if I had a third I would be worried that I would give birth in the car.”

Other mums in the area discussed the maternity consultation currently taking place across Wiltshire during a coffee morning in Woolley Grange Hotel near Bradford on Avon.

Alana Munns lives in Trowbridge and gave birth to Ava in Trowbridge birthing unit two years ago.

She said: “I didn’t want to go to Bath. I liked that Trowbridge was smaller and more intimate.

“I was slightly concerned about being moved during labour but my midwives told me it was a normal, healthy pregnancy and so I trusted in them. It would be a real shame if the birthing unit stopped.”

Lucy Baker of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group said: “This is all about delivering what mums want in the future. The consultation is out there. Please use this opportunity to have your say. This isn’t about saving money, any resources released will go straight back into midwifery to create continuity of care.” Complete the consultation by visiting: http://www.transformingmaternity.org.uk/

Caroline Edwards, also from Trowbridge, said: “I wanted to have both mine in Trowbridge. With my first, Thomas, I started in Trowbridge but because of a complication, I was transferred to Bath.

“Someone would come along every couple of hours and would spend a few minutes with me. They were working really hard but it was so busy. In Trowbridge they were really hands-on and they were really focussed on us. Someone sat with me for 30-60 minutes to make sure the baby had latched on but the one-to-one level of care at Trowbridge meant it all just clicked. I feel like I was robbed of my birth in Trowbridge but their after-care was second to none as it feels so much more personal.”