Well, there are new plans afoot down here in Devon for some hospitals to bring in the idea of new Mums no longer being allowed to stay overnight in hospital. I presume this is to save money.

When I had my daughter, I stayed for 3 days. The hospital supplied the milk, Cow & Gate in little bottles, they also provided nappies and even salt for the bath, which was recommended at the time.

Nearly 8 years later, I had my son. I had to bring in all milk, all nappies, all everything, as the hospital provided nothing. I stayed 2 nights.

BUT...if I had not stayed overnight in hospital my son would probably have died.

He was born in the morning, around 10am and everything seemed to be fine. Last thing at night, just as the nurses were coming to say goodnight and do their final check on us all, the midwife came up to me and asked if all was well. I said that yes, everything was fine...

Then she looked at my son. He was blue. She picked him up and ran to the nursery with him, calling for me to follow her.

I have terrible vision, really, really bad..and without my contact lenses I can see very little, certainly no facial details...I had taken my contact lenses out, as I was getting ready to go to sleep, and therefore I hadn't noticed what was happening to Josh.

It turned out that he had fluid on his chest, from the birth, because, in another cost cutting exercise the hospital no longer provided pipettes for midwives to remove fluid from new born babies lungs when they are newly born.

Josh nearly died that night. She told me that in 25 years she'd never ever ran anywhere, on any ward, as nurses are told not to...but she knew he was minutes away from something terrible happening...He had made no noises, otherwise I'd have heard him, because my ears take over from my eyes when my lenses come out...

The next night she took him to the nursery again, he'd ended up staying all night the previous night...and he gave them great cause for concern once again. The second night he did exactly the same thing, but this time she was ready for him...

Finally, all the fluid had been removed and I was allowed home...

For the next six months Josh slept beside me in his cradle, and my hand was on his chest all night long, to ensure that I could feel him breathing...This was in the days before they had machines to do that...I barely slept...but strangely I wasn't tired...I guess a maternal panic button got turned on...

If I'd gone home that same day, I'd not have my beautiful six foot tall, 16 year old son with me now...and I shudder at the thought of other Mum's who may go through other problems that won't be picked up on, should this idiotic idea come into place.

Apart from anything else, you're shattered when you've just had a baby..and going home, going ANYWHERE is the last thing on your mind...

I sincerely hope this stupid idea gets thrown out.