Independent/Private Midwives

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Hi all, looking for some information about independent or private midwives and people's experience with them. I live in Nottingham which is in special measures so keen to find something to supplement or replace existing care (not that I don't trust them but having worked on some of the consultations in the Shrewsbury maternity review I'm very cautious). I've come across some locally and the Private Midwives website but wondering if there is another route to finding one? How have others worked with them previously? Has anyone had both a doula and a midwife? What was it like? What did they find different? Any thoughts or experiences or advice welcome :)

Home birth Fb groups would be a good place to ask

I had an independent midwife with DD2 and she was wonderful. I met her because she did a talk at an NCT event, I wasn't pregnant then but stored her details and contacted her later. I had a home birth, not what I intended when I first booked her - I'd planned for her to support me at the hospital - but after a horrible first birth in hospital I realized that didn't want to go back to a hospital for this second birth. DD2 was born in our little bathroom, with just my DH and the independent midwife there. It was magical. On DD2's birthday every year (she is mid teens now) I think about her happy and straightforward birth and have a little private and happy cry and say a prayer of thanks for my midwife.

If you have a private midwife and have to give birth in hospital the midwife will not be insured and will count as one of your birth partners. They will therefore not be able to fully support you.

I’m going to have a doula and use the midwifery led service from my local NHS.

There are very very few independent midwives who will cover the birth, in or out of hospital, for insurance reasons rather than by choice. A few areas have organisations who are covered under a hospital insurance policy (often a private hospital but not always). Honestly, if you've found any you're lucky.

I’m going to be really honest….I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them. I decided to hire a midwife through Private Midwives for my second pregnancy. It all started really well but they don’t have a very good system in place if for any reason your midwife pulls out. I was matched with one midwife initially who suddenly pulled out. I then had a few appointments with another midwife and bonded with her and then she had a family emergency and pulled out of my care via WhatsApp message. I couldn’t risk losing a third midwife so cancelled my contract and to my credit they refunded all the money.

It is a big responsibility for one midwife to cover all your care and it’s slightly russian roulette with what they may have going on in their personal lives and whether they genuinely can commit to your full care. They really should be buddied up in case of a situation like this but it doesn’t seem to happen. And it’s so much money not to have that security.

For my first birth I had a doula and I think this is better value for money.

Hi @Marshmallowmountain - sorry it’s been ages- i’m trying again after losing my first and was tempted by private midwives- how is a doula different? can you take them to hospital?

@flossie1372 I’m sorry to hear that and wishing you a healthy future pregnancy.

You can take a doula to hospital but they will count as one of your birth partners.

Doulas are NOT medically trained. They are there for support.