Jules, do not read this if you are a worrying sort, but you need to see both sides on the 'hands off approach'
I had my first at CBC, sadly I did not have the same positive birth experience as Norks.
I got there at 9cms and the shift changed 30 mins later, midwife (who was the only one I knew) assured me I'd be ages yet. As is was night only 1 midwife, she called the on call in and DD was born 20 mins later with only one mw present (there were other mums and babes in the centre, though none labouring).
I had her in the water, it was unexpectedly fast, was never told at any point not to push, hence my 9lb 8.5oz shredded me on the way out. I was at this stage influenced into having actively managed 3rd stage ("You've just pushed a huge baby out with not pain relief or intervention, of course you can manage this") 2nd mw arrived by this point. Placenta out, examined on table told I didn't need stitches, told to go to the loo, DH left with babe. Whilst mws did the rounds.
Once on loo, I shouted to dh that my arms had gone numb, I came around in a pool of blood so large couldn't touch the edge. 1 hour pp I was given syntometrine due to uterus not reducing and excessive blood loss. I was not put on a drip and never given an iron test. I lost so much blood I couldn't stand for almost 48 hours (I have finished a cross country course (horse) with a broken collar bone, so fairly hardy) I had such a high temperature I had rigors and GP wasn't called out. I was seriously ill and should have been transferred.
I was still aneamic 4 months later. I was so exhusted and ill for the 6 months I found caring for my DD very hard and struggled to care for her.
I bled really badly for weeks, at my 6 week check my GP couldn't believe the mess I'd been left in, and referred me for op. Gynae had to cut the misplaced scar material (both internal and external) and restich it in the correct place under GA when my DD was 11 weeks old. During this they noticed I had a raging Step B infection in my uterus, I actually had retained placents in the site which I had to have a D&C for.
Since having my 2nd at Pembury I realise that this level of bloodloss was highly unusual (at Pemb was told any clot bigger than a lemon to pull cord, at cbc I was passing ones bigger than my fist and had not been told this was abnormal).
Despite the fact that my DS was seriously ill and Pembury had sent me away twice when I should have been recieving iv antibiotics for an active GBS and he'd been in mec for 48 hrs minimum with no monitoring, cord was twice round neck and his apgar was 3) I was fine and able to walk straight away etc.
On balance I would rather it was me ill that a DC, but my 'illness' (retained placenta, pph, infection etc) was so avoidable given a little more positive intervention.
Whilst preg with DS we bought a very large property to house the 4+ children we'd planned but the accumulated trauma of both my births, both time extremely let down by HCP, have meant we are sticking at 2. DH has promised me a private CSect for the next 2 but I cannot do it again.