Well DD is now 5 weeks old and is fine and thankfully doing really well.
Just looking for some thoughts from seasoned muumsnetter's, the hospital where I gave birth fell woefully short in many ways and there were several points of the labour where I and DP thought we might not have made it through at all... Absolutely terrifying at some stages. Apologies this is so long, but the detail will I hope help some of you lovely ladies give me some balanced and honest views....
So felt twinges the afternoon before I was due to be induced, but tried to stay busy and get through it. By the time DP got home from work contractions were well into a rhythm and by the time he got out the shower I was doubled up. So called ahead as discussed with midwife and was told to call back when they had been every ten minutes for at least 2 hours. Lasted until 9pm until they said they would see me in the next 2 1/2 hours. So got there and waited in reception with another couple in what appeared to be equal pain levels until gone midnight.
Finally got taken to a birth suite and introduced to a midwife who asked about birth plans etc.... Told her I would like an epidural if necessary which she assured me would happen in the next couple of hours. All good. Then she left..... Having given me 2 paracetamol. 
Pain then multiplied to levels I was struggling to contend with and DP buzzed for her. She examined me and said it was going to be ages yet, but she would bring me gas and air. This sent me completely sideways and did absolutely sod all to relieve the pain.
She then announced to DP she was going on her break for an hour and would do the epidural when she got back. DP (thank God) insisted she stayed after a great deal of questioning as I was in agony by this point and the gas was clearly having fuck all effect. She came back 20 minutes with another midwife who examined me and declared I was now 9cm dilated (had been 3cm 20 minutes prior)
"Oh well there will be no epidural-push!)"
The second midwife argued in front of us with the first one and eventually bleeped for a doctor who arrived reasonably swiftly. At this point she took one look and said to the midwife "how did she get to this ?this baby is spine to spine, get a canula in(I still have bruises where they did this)" And screamed at me to push or I would need forceps/caesarean.... And so the three of them stared at a monitor showing the baby heartbeat was dropping, whilst shouting further and DP had fear in his eyes I hope to never see again.
This continued (shit the pain was awful-felt like my back was breaking) until gone3am My vision went, everything flashed white when the doctor thankfully safely delivered our beautiful DD by vontousse . There was an awful moment when they put her on my stomach and she was silent, but to our relief she then screamed the house down....
So, four hours later I was taken to theatre to get stitched (3rd degree tear lovely-the doctor didn't have time to cut me I was told afterwards) and was not allowed anything to drink in all this time, despite the tropical temperatures in the hospital. They were yet to label DD and I insisted this happen before I leave. DP was told he could come with me to theatre, given scrubs to change into and then refused entry when we got there. Anaesthetist should not have offered apparently. No idea why as the theatre room appeared to be like a social club corridor as staff drifted through the entire duration as I am laying there off my head on morphine with legs in stirrups whilst they removed swabs they had left inside me for 4 hours (the pain was just awful). Then when I thought we were all finished with stitches, six of them fell silent wandering around looking at the floor, ignoring me. Eventually, I said "what the hell is happening here?"
The doctor responded "nothing for you to worry about-we have lost a thread."
This was found on the floor eventually and I was taken back to a different room, where my heart rate then dropped and it transpired I had lost 1 1/2 litres of blood and the morphine made me drop out a bit.
Was then finally allowed water and left alone with DD (who I breastfed for the first time alone-beautiful but with no attention or help from midwife)...
By the time I could move my legs I literally begged to get in the shower which they allowed me to do (only been told since this should never have been allowed unaccompanied, but to be honest I think I preferred that).
At 7pm that evening I discharged myself as I could not bear to stay a minute longer and just wanted to get myself our new baby and DP home to a clean bathroom and away from all the madness that was happening nearby with other couples and their visitors etc....
I feel strongly that if I was not lucky enough to have had DP there, myself and or DD would most certainly have not made it through to write this and would hate for anybody to go through what we did. If I were to see the initial midwife again, I would want answers as to why she was so blasé and failed to put my wishes and safety ahead of her break-time. That said though, I would not want to see anyone lose their job, just review their treatment of women in the throws of labour, so feel like I should write and feedback my experience to what is supposedly a leading teaching birth centre hospital...
Your honest thoughts on this would be most appreciated. . . . . B