MATERNITY units at two Nottingham hospitals closed 97 times in the past year, figures revealed.
On eight of those occasions, the maternity units at Nottingham City Hospital, pictured, and the Queen's Medical Centre were closed at the same time, leaving women to travel to another hospital or have a home birth.
Reasons for closure include lack of staff and beds and the closures ranged from 20 minutes to 26 hours.
Helen Jones, who gave birth three weeks ago at Nottingham City Hospital, said the figures were "quite shocking".
The 34-year-old, of Lowdham, said: "It would be scary because you need to know what is going to happen. It can add to anxiety."
The closures by Nottingham University Hospitals Trust were revealed after a Freedom of Information request by the BBC. Figures show that QMC closed 48 times and the City Hospital 49.
Mother-of-two Kymm Stroud, whose youngest is two years old, said she could imagine getting turned away would be "distressful". The 36-year-old, of Calverton, said: "I have been lucky because both times I have been able to get into City Hospital straight away.
''If they don't have the staff, then it's tricky and almost becomes dangerous. But on the other side, if you are in that situation, it is the last thing you want to do, fret about where you are going to have your baby."
Around 10,000 babies are born every year at the two hospitals. At the City there are 54 inpatient beds, and 17 beds on the labour suite. The QMC has 46 inpatient beds, plus 18 on the labour suite.
Jenny Leggott, director of nursing and midwifery, said patients would never be turned away on the door. When the units were closed, patients who lived closer to Derby, Leicester or King's Mill Hospital, in Sutton-in-Ashfield, would be given the option of going there. Some women who did not want to travel to another hospital chose to have a home birth.
She said: "The decision to close one or both of our services is never taken lightly and is always done with the safety of women and babies at the forefront of our minds."
