Choosing an Independent Midwife - your thoughts please...

[Snaf]

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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Hi Snaf, from my experience as a mother in the hospital environment (with IM in tow on 3rd occasion), i can say how helpful it was to have an IM who understood the protocols and politics that went on in the obstetrics dept (e.g. strep B policies) and the labour ward (e.g. when things were being done for administrative reasons or because of shift patterns) rather than medical reasons.

so the advice to work in the NHS first would seem really sensible. also, who knows what is going to happen to independent midwifery?

good luck with whatevery you decide. much respect.

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Mintpurple - if only all midwives were like you and Mears (what has happened to Mears by the way?) It is so important that people like you are around to balance things out, it must be so frustrating for you to see!

Pruners you are so right!

I have engaged an IM for my current pregnancy and experience was a big part if what I was looking for (I am attempting a VBAC). So no I wouldn't have been happy with a newly qualified midwife.