UCH has a midwife led birthing unit at one end of the floor with the delivery suite. I didn't use it as I had high-risk pregnancies both times but friends have spoken highly of it. The chances of knowing your midwife in advance probably very slim mind. It would have been difficult for me at any rate as I saw a midwife for booking in and then a series of professors/consultants until the births themselves. I didn't have a choice of where to give birth but even if I did it would have been the hospital - I wanted to know that if I wanted heavy duty pain relief it was there and in the event I needed it the theatre was there and not a drive away. A bath full of blood and other fluids - no thank you. In my view it is post-natal care that is a disaster - not having a choice of a water birth or not.