There was a unit, just like the one you describe in Devizes, Wiltshire, until this year. It was a midwife lead Unit as part of a 'cottage hosiptal'. I did consider it when pregnant with my first. The only thing that put me off was having to be transfered to Salisbury, Bath or Swindon in the event of an emergency. Alot of women had very positive births there. Sadly, it was deemed to be too expensive to run. Now many women in rural areas in that area have reduced choices and further to travel. When I looked at Southampton Hospital's unit, they had a room set up in a more homely fashion where you could give birth. I think some London hospitals operate a 'Domino' system where they have a birth unit attached to a larger hospital and a team of midwives provides care, ensuring that the woman has met her midwife before The Big Day. I hadn't met either of my midwives when I had my children and it didn't bother me. What I will say about the environment in a hospital Delivery Suite is that it is very much a hospital bed in a room. To Tom regarding 'Stupid People' - sadly people will always do things other consider to be daft.... are you suggesting that only people who aren't 'stupid' be allowed to have babies??