I'm now pregnant with my third child and if I was unable to use an independent midwife, I'd seriously consider birthing my baby on my own. I'm not a crank. I'm an ordinary person who fully supports the NHS and am generally against private medical care. I wish the NHS would allow all midwives to operate in the way that independent midwives do - providing friendly, supportive, experienced, non-judgmental continuity of care to women, in their own homes when they wish.

With my first child, I opted for a home birth with NHS community midwives but the result was an emergency c-section. It was the most traumatic experience of my life and my baby nearly died. I blame the system and inexperienced midwives. I know I could have birthed my baby safely without the unnecessary 'cascade of intervention'. When I had my second child, the NHS wouldn't support a home birth because I was a 'high risk'. After much battling and soul-searching, I resorted to an independent midwife from the London Birth Practice. It was the best decision I ever made and changed my life.

Both my midwives were amazing and I had my second child safely, comfortably and happily at home after a 5 hour second stage. I did not 'turn blue and die' as the NHS consultant had threatened I would do. To me, this is a women's rights issue. I demand the right to use an independent midwife because women's rights are regularly violated by a failing NHS maternity system that puts resources and risk of litigation before the welfare of women and babies, and reduces the profession of midwifery to one of obstetric nurse. (mother of two)