"Some experiences of Barratt Maternity Home"

I concur with the story already listed.....staffing appears to be the biggest issue at this maternity home. I have had three children at the home over a 12 year period and I'm due to have my fourth later on this year.

I chose to go there rather than to Kettering, as it is familiar and I have struggled to hear a good report from Kettering.

I have had two c-sections and one normal delivery. My last pregnancy was complicated by an onset of pre-eclampsia so I had to stay 3 weeks before my sons birth and another week after that.

The midwives do care and have a good sense of humour. I felt better treated in my later pregnancies as I was older and had more experience, whereas I was seen as young and incompetent as a mother at 20 years old. The ward I stayed on had been refurbished since my first in 2000, and was secure and clean.

This time however I will prepare myself with shed loads of food, they just don't provide portions sizeable enough for pregnant women who are obviously feeding for two. A friend of mind would bring in bags of food, just so I wouldn't feel starved.

But saying that, I would definitely choose there than anywhere else. On a couple of occasions the nurses were sympathetic to the fact I had my blood pressure taken constantly through the night that they would cradle my son after feeding during the night to allow me some rest which was a Godsend when you don't have your partner there for 12 hours at a time. I have stayed in both the private rooms and the bayed ward and can say that you can't beat having your own privacy in a room, as most of the women on the ward spoke very little English so it can be lonely.

Knowledge is power, so go prepared, with snacks to last and Internet access to find out how to look after your newborn on line, cause quite frankly no one there has the time to help you.....sad but true! These women work tirelessly, due to staff numbers their expertise cannot be fully appreciated.

The experience was positive enough for me to consider a career in midwifery myself, so that's saying something.