My names jody and I had my first baby in 2018 in shetland. I was told for medical reasons by staff in shetland id need to give birth in Aberdeen. This caused me so much anxiety and stress in the last trimester with worrying about traveling down , would I have accommodation , would my partner be there etc. We had a healthy baby there were minor set backs but eventually got home 9 days after and settled. I did write a complain in to the NHS about all of my concerns and my experience with having to go to Aberdeen. The head midwifes came to see me and seemed understanding enough and said the things they can change they would (that wouldn't cost the money just better organisation) . Fast forward 4 years and I'm half way thought my pregnancy with baby no2. Being told again I must go to Aberdeen to birth. The changes they "promised they would make" haven't been done. Example I said to them to give the Aberdeen birthing pack to mums early in the pregnancy so they have time to read over it and prepare, save money , work out accommodation,  child care travel and food costs etc. I had to ask for it at 16 weeks and other mums to be I know are 26 to 32 weeks with no info still! I was told by a midwife here I can request to he induced , which would be a good option for me so I can arrange child care for my 3yr old have a set day give or take to have baby and then my partner can be there with out risking wasting maturity leave waiting about Aberdeen for baby or risking missing the birth if he stayed in shetland and came down when I went into labour (if he could get a flight that is). We also have to pay for my partner to be down there at the birth of his own child. Though I'm told I "have to go" to Aberdeen and my flight is paid, my birthing partner isn't paid for , so if er have no money for any reason I'd be alone in 260 miles away giving birth when literally anything could happen. They don't even offer adequate pain relief for mothers in labour in shetland. Glass and air , morphine and the birth pool. No epidural if that's what you wanted. In shetland your options for your birth are so limited it's almost impossible to birth here. If there's any slight issue you're sent away to birth. The hospital here need the trained staff , equipment and facilities to give mothers a comfortable stress free birthing experience. If we don't get to choose where we birth we should have options and more variety to us birthing in shetland. More needs done. We pay into our NHS like other people but yet because we live on an island you don't have the same birthing options as someone on the mainland. It causes more stress and depression than needed. Please help me make changes for better and more comfortable birthing experiences.