The Life of a Private Midwife

My friends who are NHS Midwives think that I’m on-call 24/7, that I’m constantly being dragged out of my bed at 3am and that I have no personal life!

(what my friends think I do!)

Yet, I manage my own time and my work and home life has never been more balanced.

Every time I see my Mum, she asks me how many babies I’ve delivered that day! Of course, I’ve tried to explain that my job ISN’T just about birth, but bless her, she loves telling people her version!!

(what my mum thinks I do!)

There is a quote by Barbara Katz Rothman that sums this up beautifully…’Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers…strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”

When I tell people that I’m a Private Midwife, they always assume that I just care for rich, famous people! Footballers wives and girlfriends, soap stars and actors, doctors, lawyers …

 

Yet, my clients are everyday people who have merely chosen to prioritise an element of their pregnancy and birthing journey to ensure the most positive experience and outcome.

‘Private’ doesn’t have to mean pricey, it’s about personalised, prioritised, professional provision of care.

I am a Midwife! I am trained to the same standard as NHS midwives and I receive regular training to ensure my practice is updated, evidence-based and safe, just as my NHS colleagues do. However, I don’t have the downside of NHS politics contaminating my practice and am lucky enough to have one thing my NHS colleagues desperately want, but sadly will never have…

 

TIME!

 

I have a very small caseload of women and I visit them in their homes at a time to suit them, which means their partner and family are able to feel a part of the journey.

I spend 1-2 hours with my clients at each visit, which means I get to know them and their family very well.

My clients know they can contact me at any time with any questions or concerns, which builds confidence and trust.

A first-time Mum will have approximately 5 more antenatal appointments with me than she would have with NHS care.

I provide 1:1 preparation for parenting and birth education. I also offer hypnobirthing classes to clients who are interested in this approach.

I am able to accompany women to hospital, so they have a trusted and familiar birth supporter who knows their wishes and can advocate for them.

I attend families who choose to birth at home, providing continuity of care in the moments that matter.

Clients can expect to see me frequently in the postnatal period too, as we provide up to six weeks of continuous support for families after baby is born.

I am able to spend quality time to help families with infant feeding. This is an area where early support and advice can make all the difference to feeding success.

Private Midwifery is a continuum of individualised care which aims to meet each client’s needs with friendly, trusted and professional support.

I am a Private Midwife – and I love what I do!