MUMS and grandmas have been working with architects to design a "home from home" for women to give birth.

And they have also been involved in bringing out new training and support packages for all maternity workers, to help ensure expectant mothers make the best choices for their birth.

Health chiefs said they wanted mums - the real experts - to be fully involved in the setting up of new birthing centres in Blackburn, Burnley and Rossendale next year.

With a £15,000 grant from the Department of Health, the East Lancashire Birth Choice Group, has been working with midwives, clinical consultants and the University of Central Lancashire to help take the stress out of birth.

The new centres, which will be managed by midwives and designed to be a non-clinical "home from home", are set to open as part of phase two of East Lancashire hospital bosses' Meeting Patients Needs re-organisation programme.

Mums have been helping ensure women will have everything they need in the new centres - from comfy sofas, birthing pools and calming music to carers specialising in natural pain relief methods to ensure the most natural birth possible.

Research in other areas has shown that women giving birth at the centres have fewer complications and need fewer drugs, while the system also frees up maternity doctors to spend more time on complicated births in hospital wards.

Alison Sauer, of the birth choice group, said: "A lot of first-time mums have only really seen the whole process on EastEnders or something like that, which of course is so far removed from the real experience it can be very confusing.

"We have got a great team together working to make things better.

"A natural, stress-free birth is best for the child, and we want to reduce the number of complications and Caesarean sections.

"We've got mums and grandmas going to meetings with the hospital bosses and the architects, because they know exactly what is needed - what they could have done with when they gave birth.

"We've even got plans to look at the menu offered, because one mum said the food offered afterwards was never enough after all that work!"

Sheena Byrom, Consultant Midwife for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "An uncomplicated pregnancy means that a woman can have all her antenatal care provided by a midwife at her GP surgery, her local Children's Centre or at home.

"It is very important that women have accurate, well-balanced information when making their choice, and that health professionals share the decision-making process by providing guidance in an open manner."