Just thought I'd post to let people know that it's relatively straightforward to get a copy of the hospital notes from your labour as I've just done this.
I didn't have a traumatic delivery or anything, I was just interested in knowing everything about my first labour (and am pregnant with DC2).
I wrote to the "Access to Health Records Administrator" - contact details were on my NHS Trust's website (found by searching subject access request). I had to fill in a form, specifying exactly what parts of my records I wanted, and pay a administration fee of £10. The form also said I needed to pay a standard £25 (or was it £30) fee for photocopying, but when I rang up to challenge this - after all I only wanted about 5 A4 pages! - they were pretty reasonable and said I could pay a far reduced fee given the small number of pages I wanted (the photocopying and recorded delivery fee was £4 in the end, on top of the £10).
Once they had located the records, they had to clear their release with the relevant consultant, and then posted them out to me (I think they are worried about patients potentially requesting records in order to make a complaint, although of course they would still have to release the records).
It was all pretty straightforward and very interesting reading my notes as I hardly remmeber anything of my time in hospital whilst in labour as I was having frequent strong contractions.
I found out I was pushing for 1hr 35 mins (it felt like a lifetime so I am slightly relieved that it was a pretty long time), how much blood I lost (not much) and how frequent my contractions were when I got to hospital (all the blimming time).
I would recommend anyone to get a copy of their records if they want to - you don't have to have a "reason" (like a traumatic delivery) and my request was dealt with though an obviously very well-established procedure.