14788THE fact that she lives in London did not stop mum-to-be Rachel Butterworth from using Devizes Maternity Unit.

Ms Butterworth, 30, had resigned herself to giving birth at a large London hospital but when she saw the Devizes unit she decided she wanted to give birth there.

Miss Butterworth, an architect who lives with her partner Charles Palmer in Chiswick, said: "I heard about Devizes Maternity Unit from my friend who lives in Oare. She had used it and was singing its praises.

"I came down to have a look around the unit four weeks before I was due to give birth.

"When I saw it I knew I wanted to give birth there. It is completely different to the hospital where I was due to give birth in London.

"In London the NHS care makes you feel like you're in a sausage making factory and you are on the conveyor belt.

"You don't feel special. As a first time mum you want to know who your midwife is going to be and what is happening.

"At a London hospital you are in and out within 24 hours of giving birth.

"The setup felt really, really uncomfortable.

"I wanted a natural birth and that is what Devizes was offering."

Ms Butterworth stayed at her friend's house in the run-up to her due date. She used the birthing pool during her labour but it took longer than expected and the baby became stuck so Miss Butterworth went to the Royal United Hospital, Bath, for an emergency caesarean on November 13 after which she and baby Amelie Eve returned to the Devizes unit for four days post natal care.

She said: "All the staff at the Bath hospital were great but they didn't have the time to spend with me to breastfeed.

"When I got back to Devizes the midwives immediately started me breast feeding.

"The staff at Devizes were also busy but they still had time for me. Breast feeding is like a degree but the staff showed me what to do and I am breast feeding like a trouper. Amelie only lost 25 grams in weight which is nothing.

"The community midwives who came to see us back home in London were shocked at the small weight loss and that I was breastfeeding okay. They were used to seeing babies who had lost more weight."

Ms Butterworth welcomes the decision by Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care trust to reprieve the unit, along with Malmesbury Maternity Unit, until it completes a wider review of health services within 12 months.

But she said: "I don't understand the sense of the unit not being open.

"It's essential for young mothers to go there for two or three days to be shown the ropes on how to look after their newborn baby.

"Doesn't that save the state money?"

Closer to home, Gemma Kington was grateful that Devizes Maternity Unit was open for her.

Miss Kington, 19, gave birth to her second child, Millie, 40 minutes after arriving at the unit on November 18.

She and her partner, Daniel Braithwaite, of Hare and Hounds Street, do not drive and were taken to the hospital by Miss Kington's grandmother.

Mr Braithwaite, 25, and a fencing contractor, said: "If we had had to go another hospital we would not have made it. Gemma would have ended up giving birth by the side of the road.

"When Gemma was in the unit it was full to the brim.

"They had to get an extra bed for us, they were so busy."

Miss Kington gave birth to her first child, 17-month-old Catrina at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, but returned to the Devizes unit for post natal care. She said: "The care you get at Devizes is more personal and there's a more friendly atmosphere."

To find out more about the maternity units call Devizes on (01380) 720303 and Malmesbury on (01666) 822657.