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Original poster

Choosing an Independent Midwife - your thoughts please...

30 replies

Snaf · 08/11/2007 14:42

Just a quick question:

If you wanted to engage an IM for your baby's birth, would you ever consider a midwife who was newly qualified? Perhaps working in partnership with a more experienced mw, but only recently qualified all the same?

I have to collect ds from school so can't reply right away, but your honest opinions and thoughts on this would be much appreciated

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DaisyMoo · 08/11/2007 14:48

I know that some midwives do go out into the community on the NHS as soon as they qualify and I know the arguments that you're either a safe midwife or you're not, but tbh, I probably wouldn't hire an IM who was very recently qualified. My main reason would be concern that she would be too anxious (understandably) which could affect how I labour or lead to an unnecessary transfer to hospital. If she was working with a more experienced midwife I would be more likely to hire her.

NoNameToday · 08/11/2007 15:15

I wouldn't choose to employ a newly qualified midwife, even one working in partnership with a more experienced one.

You could find yourself with just the newly qualified one, car breakdown etc.

I would not want to take the risk.

In hospital employment newly qualified midwives undertake a long period of preceptorship, there are always senior midwives on duty with them even if not their particular mentor.

Original poster
Snaf · 08/11/2007 15:59

Thanks for replies so far - and bump

(I think I know which way this is going to go, but all opinions are most welcome!)

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Lulumama · 08/11/2007 16:05

i would if it was you snaf

hard question to answer.. i would think a newly qualified MW who wanted to be an IM straight away would be extra careful and extra prepared due to the extra amount of responsiility.. i would rather have a new, and passionate and warm MW than an older , jaded one, maybe... dunno... how much would it compromise the mother;s safety or the baby;s? and at what point would it be ok? 6 months qualified? 10 years? there;ll always be surprises at births

BrummieOnTheRun · 08/11/2007 16:12

I personally wouldn't because the whole point is having someone exceptionally experienced watching over you, be it at a homebirth or in the hospital. that's just me, though.

NoNameToday · 08/11/2007 16:14

Sorry if I misunderstood your post Snaf.

Are you a newly qualified MW?

Original poster
Snaf · 08/11/2007 16:20

I'm a student mw, NoName - final year and weighing up my options. You didn't misunderstand - I was being a bit vague deliberately to try and get some honest reactions

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feedmenow · 08/11/2007 16:21

I would if I liked them and felt confident in them.

I think you would have to meet a few and have a good old chat with them before making a decision either way. Midwives don't spend 3 years reading books then qualify and rush out to their first birth! By the time the qualify they have already attending many (is it at least 40?) births. And you could be assured that being newly qualified they would know all the latest methods and tactics. If I remember correctly (and feel free to correct me anyone!) an IM doesn't HAVE to attend refresher training/updates, etc, so wouldn't necessarily 'know' as much as a newbie.

Anyway, like I said, I would, but only after meeting with them and having a chance to get to know them and work out if we were "compatible".

Good luck!

feedmenow · 08/11/2007 16:23

Crossed posts there snaf, so you can answer me yourself!! is it 40 births? If you are planning on offering discounted rates as a newly qualified, let me know and you can come and be my IM

Lulumama · 08/11/2007 16:23

sorry snaf, i dropped you in it

NoNameToday · 08/11/2007 16:30

I will have to correct you feedmenow

An Independant Midwife does have to complete the same housrs of study to maintain her registration with the NMC to enable her to practice,and submit her intention to practice to the Local Supervising Authority.

NoNameToday · 08/11/2007 16:32

Not sure if I think you are very brave or very foolish Snaf

Original poster
Snaf · 08/11/2007 16:33

lulu

It is indeed 40 births - minimum! Although whether we get enough experience of 'normal' birth/home birth/waterbirth/etc is another matter altogether... And LOL at discounted rates - I wish I could afford to!

(It's not true about the updating, though - IMs are still registered with the NMC and have to attend yearly updates, professional practice meetings, skills & drills, supervisory meetings etc just like an NHS mw would.)

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Original poster
Snaf · 08/11/2007 16:36

Oh, I'm sure you do know which one you think, NoName

As I said, just weighing up the options...

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feedmenow · 08/11/2007 16:36

Thanks for that snaf! At least I got one bit of my info right!!!!! Did wonder after I typed that if I'd read it in some foreign and/or amazingly old book but have got baby brain and am lucky if I can remember my own name

NoNameToday · 08/11/2007 16:42

I love the idea of Independant Midwifery, but the practicalities these days with huge costs for insurance (if you can get it) makes it something of a minefield.

Sazisi · 08/11/2007 16:56

Our IMW was recommended to us by MIL's cousin.
She was vastly experienced, and we were definitely impressed by that. But the thing that really inspired my confidence was her own confidence, iyswim? She had such an air of intelligence and calm.
I would consider a newly qualified mw if she was working with a more experienced mw. I think I'd want the more experienced one if I had to choose one or the other though. Sorry

Scanner · 08/11/2007 17:00

I had a very bad experience with an IM and would never do t again. NHS for me the following two times and a far better experience all round.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 08/11/2007 18:31

Snaf - some of the girls on the sms site are indys who went indy as NQs. If you feel confident then go for it. You could always bank at the local hospital to get some more experience as well????

cakebakemum · 08/11/2007 20:19

I chose Melody Weig for my independent midwife and she was absolutely fantastic. Had and N.H.S. birth first time round that left me traumatised and shattered. Melody has so much experience and instilled me with confidence so had a great home birth. Can't recommend her enough. If you get an independent midwife you know what you will have for your birth - on
the N.H.S. it is a lottery who your midwife will be. It is pricey but come on - how many times are you going to give birth. Why not make it a empowering experience rather than a terrifying disempowering one?

cakebakemum · 08/11/2007 20:22

Melody was very experience but working with a newly qualified midwife - I would say you would want at least one of your midwives to have experience - this will put you at ease.

Mintpurple · 09/11/2007 09:07

Hi Snaf - I think its worth working for a while in a busy labour ward (even if you hate it) just to get some experience first, as it really does count for a lot when things start to go pear shaped. Even more important is seeing potential problems and avoiding them before they eventuate, and being able to just deal with problems that do arise while staying really calm and relaxed, and that all does take experience.

The ideal would be to do some shifts in labour ward and work part time with an experienced IM to get 'known' and learn the ropes.

As Lulu said, if people knew you,Im sure they would be happy to have you, but until then a lot of IM work is obtained by word of mouth recommendation, so you need to build up a rep, and the best way for that is to get into an established practice where you can start to get clients via the practice's reputation.

I would love to go the IM route too, but just cant afford it at the moment

Good luck Snaf.

Original poster
Snaf · 09/11/2007 11:13

Thanks mintpurple, for your encouraging words. I know that you are right really and that a couple of years, say, on rotation wouldn't kill me!

It's just damned hard sometimes to keep your philosophy (man) intact on a unit where the doctors don't even bother to knock, iyswim...

Anyway, we'll get there in the end

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susie100 · 09/11/2007 11:27

Hi Snaf, when I chose my IM I went for someone very experienced who had seen a lot of home births, was comfortable with breech births and done lots of them and just ouzed confidence which made me feel so reassured. She had a lovely NQ midwife with her who was great and a pleasure to have at the birth but I would not have felt comfortable knowing it would just have been her.
I have some rather complicated medical conditions though so that is what influenced my decision, i wanted someone who had seen it all before and would spot any problems very quickly. I started off in the NHS and although there were gems along the way I saw a different midwife every time and had to explain my condition so many times and what it meant for the birth that I was exhausted and decided to go for an IM. If I could have guaranteed on of the gems I would have stuck with it though! Good luck

Mintpurple · 09/11/2007 11:52

Snaf - sounds like my unit

My philosophy is that i can make a difference to the women that I look after, and the NHS needs people like you and me to balance out the ratbags!

So keep strong with your dreams and enjoy your midwifery along the way

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