I just wanted to reassure anyone who is scared like I was that it can be a positive experience.
I REALLY wanted a home birth/ water birth. I did all the research and I knew it was safe, plus I was terrified of hospital. Also my local hospital is rather notorious for poor care and ageing facilities.
BUT. I was induced in the end, all plans out the window. I received excellent care and I was given a choice throughout. I had a very long labour, but I was not rushed or intervened with without consent. I was advised a c-section might be necessary but at my request was able to go longer and the baby after 7 hours stuck at 9cm with a cervical lip turned and I managed a natural birth with the care of two supportive midwives. I even had up to 6 students at a time providing entertainment and a smile when I felt like it was all too much. I hadn't wanted students, but they normalised a scary situation and it was a busy good natured room. I had one to one care throughout most my labour (well from 12am until 4.15pm when I was established), and the fever I developed during and after labour was quickly spotted and treated. Even the epidural I had in the afternoon was ok, I wasn't numb as I feared. I could flex my feet and feel pressure, it just took the edge of the pain. I was still mobile enough to roll onto my sides and move up and down the bed. The monitors weren't great as I couldn't get up, but I could see the sense in them considering the fact I had a fever, 34 hours of labour and my waters were absent at the beginning of labour. It was a lot to put a baby though and I was fine with changing my mind on this considering the circumstances.
It wasn't my first choice, but circumstances forced it and it was as good experience as I could wish given the fever and vomiting I went to hospital with and which stayed a concern for 48 hours. The main thing was they made me feel completely safe at every point. There are some great midwives out there working on labour wards and supportive consultants with a sense of humour (he laughed after I protested on gas and air 'go away, you have shovels for hands!).