Any information about independent midwives / natural birthing in Oxford?

[TheGentleSeaSnail]

I was wondering if anyone has any info about independent midwives in Oxford? My last birth was at a 'natural birth house' in Japan, with a team of midwives who had a 'minimum intervention' approach. I used hypnobirthing techniques to manage the pain, and this worked really well. Altogether it was an ideal birth with no complications.

5 years later, I'm now in Oxford UK and looking to try to recreate the experience for my birthing my next child. Since these natural birth houses don't really exist in the UK (to my knowledge) I think will probably involve hiring a private midwife and having a home birth.

Having done some research, I've discovered there is a midwife by the name of Nina Van Schaick at PrivateMidwives.com. Does anyone have any experience with her? The reviews on TrustPilot matching her name are all very postitive, and the organisation PrivateMidwives.com itself seems to attract almost entirely positive praise. It all looks very organised, and their birthing stats as reassuring. Does anyone have experience with them?

There are some other private midwives in Oxford, but I think they may well have retired now. These are:

• Lou Pouget
• liz Nightingale
• Sarah Ifill
• Meg Miskin Garside

Anyone know of them, and are they still practising? I'm looking to have my next birth at home or at a place where there is absolute minimum medicalisation, and as low as possible likelihood of being sent off for C-section as often happens in the hospital.

Any suggestions or thoughts would be most appreciated!

Wallingford Birthing Centre sounds like what you're looking for Wallingford Maternity and Birthing Centre - Maternity. It's free-standing so is midwife run, and whilst it is attached to a hospital it is a separate unit and they don't have any medical intervention unless absolutely necessary. They encourage natural labour techniques and have things like birthing pools.

Thank you for the information - I had a look and it does look lovely. It is a little far away though as it is a 40 minute drive from where I live. Not sure I would make it in time.

https://www.theoxforddoula.co.uk/

I've just had a look and Oxford Spires is the exact same- midwife led and a separate unit with birthing pools etc Oxford Spires Midwifery-led Unit - Maternity - Oxford University Hospitals

Thank you these are very helpful!

If you look at IMUK they have a handy ‘find a midwife’ search you can see who is in your area. Or Zest midwives.

This may be too late for the OP , but might help others who are reading.
Nina is fantastic. We have extended direct experience and I dont believe you would find a better midwife anywhere.
She is able to accompany you to the Spires or the main delivery suite ( if you have medical reasons to attend) or look at arranging an home birth.

The other person who we highly recommend is Sarah at Birth Baby Balance near Witney.
She offers various services including as doula to accompany to the Spires midwife led unit.

The staff at the Spires are generally great but like many areas of the NHS they are currently under a lot of pressure and the staffing situation means that you may not have a midwife with you at all times and quite possibly not the same one.

For anyone who has the resources to hire either of these professionals, I cannot stress enough what a difference they made.