MATERNITY UNIT: CORINNA Mazzotta gave birth to her first child Benjamin without the use of drugs for pain relief.

It took Benjamin 12 and half hours to come into the world at the Malmesbury Maternity Unit, 19 months ago.

Mrs Mazzotta, 31, of Ramleaze, says she would have been urged to have a Caesarean Section if she had been in labour for that long at the former Princes Margaret Hospital.

She learned of the Malmesbury unit through a friend and decided to have her child there after visiting with her husband Anthony, 31.

"I wanted as natural a birth as possible and didn't want to feel hurried," she said. "I had gas and air for pain relief and used the birthing pool."

She stayed at the unit for postnatal care.

"I was having difficulty breastfeeding Benjamin it took me five days to do it properly. "I received one-to-one care and so much support."

She wants people to know what a valuable asset the unit is to try and prevent its closure.

"I walked through the doors and I knew I wanted my baby there. It almost felt like home."