Private Midwives in North/North West London?

[cardamomginger]

I am 38 and 7 weeks pregnant with my first child. Even though this is early days, I am fairly anxious about this whole giving birth thing - my husband is EXTREMELY squeamish and faints at the sight of blood so I'm not holding out much hope for useful support when things start to get "interesting". I don't have a mother or sister I can call upon and feel very uncomfortable about asking a friend to be my birth partner. My thoughts at the moment are to have an NHS birth, most likely at the Royal Free, but to bring in a private midwife. Not sure at the moment if I'd want this just in a supportive capacity, or whether I'd want her to actually deliver me. Does anyone have any experience of doing this at the Royal Free? Can anyone recommend a private midwife/how to go about finding one? I thought about a doula, and they sound great, but I think I'd feel happier with a midwife in case there's 15 other women giving birth at the same time as me - I'd like the guarantee that I will have 1-1 support and attention throughout.

A private midwife won't be able to deliver the baby in hospital, but can act as support and can do your post-natal care also so you have continuity and a proper debrief afterwards. I had this set-up for DD2 and it was very helpful. I didn't want a doula because my previous birth was complicated and I wanted someone there with medical training who could explain it all to me if need be.

Not all independent midwives will accompany clients into the hospital, but you could check out Maya Midwives who do attend hospital births (and who I recommend - and they are based in N London). There is also an independent midwives website which has a search facility for finding someone in your area.

HTH

Oh - an IM will also do your ante-natal care. Hour long ante-natal chats in your own home are a vast improvement on the NHS model, I think, especially if you are nervous.

Hey Mrs Happy, Viv at the Maya Midwives was my NCT antenatal teacher recently. She was fab! If I were going down the independent midwife route then she's the one I'd go with .

Cardomom a doula would stay with you throughout, so would be able to provide one-to-one care and support and attention, but as they're not medical professionals wouldn't be actively involved in the delivery. As MrsH says, an independent midwife can't actually deliver in a hospital. Good luck with whatever you choose

I agree with the long antenatal chats being fantastic - I'm under the Whittington but planning a home birth so my antenatal care is handled by the home birth team. All antenatal apps after my booking in have been at home, and usually last about an hour and a half (my "short" one was 45 mins!). I feel like I'm having an independent midwife, with lots of attention and respect for my wishes, but on the NHS. In fact, now that I'm on maternity leave I got to go to the regular coffee morning in Finsbury Park today and meet some of the other midwives (including one former independent midwife), in case "my" midwife's not on call when I go into labour. Which is very reassuring.

I'm not trying to push home births btw. Deciding how to give birth is such a personal choice, and you should only do what you feel happy with. I just wanted to offer my experience of the NHS as it's been so positive .

And one of my NCT friends had a baby last week at the Royal Free and said the midwives there were amazing.

Thanks Mrs H and Caitni. I think the more medical aspect is what I'm after. Had come across Maya Midwives online and was thinking of getting in touch with them. Good to have two recommendations!