Robyn was turned away from Hutt Hospital as they were full when she was in labour at 41 weeks and 5 days (despite being told she needed to be in hospital to birth). Baby Camryn was born at the Birth Centre.

I was turned away from Hutt Hospital while in labour at 41 weeks 5 days pregnant. They were closed - no rooms, beds or staff available, despite me being told I needed a hospital birth.

There was no way I'd make it to Wellington Hospital, I had barely made it to Hutt Hospital. Thankfully the Birthing Centre was just down the road and I made it there just in time to hit the 'transition' stage of labour. Without this facility I honestly don't know what I would have done.

I was transferred by ambulance to Hutt Hospital immediately after birth for emergency surgery. Te Awakairangi Birthing Centre staff provided warm winter woolies for my baby for her first midnight car ride, barely a hour or two old. Of course I didn't pack those - none of this was in my birth plan.

The poor state of affairs at Hutt Hospital was quickly apparent. After surgery the surgeon couldn't find a midwife to bring my baby to me so I was sent back to the ward rapidly to be with her. I found my partner shell shocked and alone. No one had told him what was going on, when I'd be back or what he should do with his new baby.

Many of the staff seemed stressed, often had little time to provide support and were sometimes unempathetic or unkind. The delivery ward was closed twice more during the time I was there. That means it closed 3 times in 5 days.

Hutt Hospital maternity department is in a terrible state, but everyone already knows that. There have been far too many poor reports and horrifying headlines about poor care leading to disability and death.

We need the Birthing Centre. I am shocked to hear it may close. Maternity services are in a horrifically poor state. Why are birthing parents and babies so undervalued? It's beyond belief that we are having this conversation.