Sorry if this isn't in the right section of the forum...have been asked to spread the word!

[fitnfortyone]

What Independent Midwifery Care Feels Like?

If you pass this on to anyone who might not know what independent midwifery care would be like, ask them to imagine
this..

Imagine being able to spend an hour, or even two, with your midwife every time you saw her.

Imagine being able to talk about everything that is worrying you, and not just the physical symptoms of your pregnancy.

Imagine knowing that the midwife you saw at your last appointment, will be the same midwife you see at your next appointment.

Imagine knowing that the midwife you have come to love and trust will be the same midwife who catches your baby and cares for you in the days following the birth.

Imagine being hugged and kissed by your midwife when you are in labour, and that that doesn't feel strange.

Imagine being able to plan the birth you want, free from the fear that you will face opposition and with the confidence that you will be supported no matter what.

Imagine being able to call your midwife a part of your family and


Imagine your children growing up knowing their midwife so well that they want to invite her to their birthday party each year.

That is what independent midwifery is.

If you want this type of midwifery care free on the NHS for yourself, for your daughters, granddaughters, friends, family or just birthing women generally you may want to read on...

The campaign to save Independent Midwifery continues. Changes in legislation mean that we may be unable to practise legally as Independent Midwives after next year unless women and their supporters demand that this option remains open. If Independent Midwives become illegal, pregnant women will have very little choice over the type of care they receive and who provides it. We are now working towards Independent Midwives remaining self-employed and "contracting in" to the NHS to work for Primary Care Trusts (PCT's). This would mean that women would have more choice about their care and their carers within the NHS system.

Independent Midwives UK (the new name for the Independent Midwives Association) is now in the process of collecting names and addresses of all those who would like to see Independent Midwifery essentially FREE to all women at the point of care. Once we can demonstrate a local need for such services, commissioning Independent Midwifery services is the next logical step for Primary Care Trusts. This is in line with Government policy as outlined in the recent document "Maternity Matters". We also hope that making this scheme work may also entice some of the many trained but non-practising midwives back into the best job in the world.

Do you want to help make this happen?

Please go to Independent Midwife Virginia Howes's website to fill in the quick simple form on the home page here

Please forward this e-mail to as many people as possible, women, midwives, fathers, and grandparents.
Happy healthy birth for every mother is everyone's business.
Tell all your friends and let's beat the 10,000 signatures we had on the Government petition we ran last year.

[minxpinx]

I wish wish wish that I'd known about this before I had my dreadful birth experience. I am convinced it would have made the world of difference

[CoolYourJets]

It sounds good. I was actually lucky enough to have all of this through the NHS.

Just a fluke really.

[Donk]

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[fitnfortyone]

my midwives were good, but they're part of the system - If I should ever happen to get pregnant again, I'd love to have an indy midwife as they know how to play the system to get what the mum-2-be actually wants, without bullying her into decisions she doesn't fully understand

[fitnfortyone]

bump

[Tinkerisdead]

I have an independant midwife and she is an angel. Im now overdue but i have every faith in her looking after me and my interests at the birth. i actually said to her, this baby feels like mine, Dh's and hers. She is the one person outside of our home who has the same interest in our baby. To have the consistency of care has been the most reassuring thing in the world. wishing you all the very best with the campaign xxx

[gabygirl]

I had an IM and I had all of those things! So, so lucky.

I wish everyone had this sort of care.

[susie100]

thank you for highlighting, my IMs were so incredibly amazing and every woman should have access to this kind of care.

I find it staggeringly hypocrital that Obs are allowed to practise privately but IMs might soon not be able to.

[Donk]

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