Today The Observer launches its Better Birth Campaign, our drive to give mothers a better experience of one of the most life-changing events.

One of the biggest challenges facing the NHS is the shortage of midwives, making it difficult to offer good, safe staffing levels on labour wards. With better midwifery, woman can be afforded greater control over how they give birth, one of the most important issues in defining whether the experience is viewed positively or negatively.

Shortages in some regions are leading to sporadic closures of the smaller birth centres which offer exactly the kind of uncomplicated care most women want.

Post-natal care is particularly poor in Britain, with women leaving hospital very quickly after giving birth, often because they cannot get the level of support they need. This aspect of maternity services needs urgent attention.

These are the five changes we believe are needed to make the experience of giving birth better:

· A government commitment that by 2008, every woman can be assured she will have a midwife with her continuously throughout her labour.

· A survey asking women who have given birth three months previously about their experiences, so that there can be a better understanding of women's birth needs.

· A pilot study to assess how independent midwives could be allowed to work within the NHS, offering more services, including home births and better community care.

· An audit of Britain's maternity units, which would include looking at hygiene and cleanliness levels.

· A named person in each maternity unit whom women or their partners can contact if standards fall below what is expected.

With these simple steps, a great improvement in the standards of care for women giving birth is possible. We hope the government and the hospitals concerned will listen.