Expectant mothers have been warned they may not know where they will give birth until the last minute thanks to a midwife shortage.

Women due to have babies at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton face being redirected to Haywards Heath, Worthing or Eastbourne because of a shortage of midwives in the city.

New mums are also being urged to consider going home earlier after giving birth because of a shortage of postnatal beds.

Parents like Emma and Andy Saunders were shocked to receive a letter warning them there were 11 midwife vacancies at the Royal Sussex and the antenatal ward had been temporarily closed.

With antenatal care transferred to the postnatal ward, health chiefs want new mothers who feel well enough to consider going home early.

Mrs Saunders, 33, of Ladies Mile Road, Patcham, is due to give birth to her second child on October 13.

She wanted to have the baby at the Royal Sussex because she was so happy with the care she received there when she gave birth to son Harrison in 2000.

Mrs Saunders, a teacher, said: "Giving birth is a frightening experience anyway. There are so many unknowns. We don't even know where the hospital is in Eastbourne.

"It just makes it harder. It's the last thing you want to hear four weeks before you give birth. I have felt a bit sick since we got the letter."

Her husband Andy, 32, a statistics expert, said: "When my wife is in the first stages of labour this time around we will be constantly worried about where we may be directed to, at an already stressful time, when we should be focusing wholly on the welfare of my wife and our baby."

The couple were hoping to use the birthing pool at the Royal Sussex but do not even know if one is available at the other hospitals.

They are also concerned new mothers will feel pressure to go home early after giving birth.

Mr Saunders added: "Nowhere on the letter is there an apology for any inconvenience caused by the maternity unit closures.

"If this letter was intended to provide re-assurances it has achieved exactly the opposite."

No one was available to comment at the hospital last night.

However, last month a spokesman said there was a national shortage of midwives and the high cost of living in the Brighton area hindered staff recruitment.

Referring to the closure of the antenatal ward, the spokesman said: "The staff here are doing an excellent job in very difficult circumstances. We don't want to have to take action like this but we feel it is the best we can do in the circumstances and will help reduce the pressures."

He insisted mothers would be given full back-up from community midwives when they returned home and only those who were fit to leave and agreed to go would leave early.