If you have an independent midwife what happens if they miss the birth ?

[mamatomany]

I'm not but a friend is and it just occurred to me what if something happens, like snow (she's due in Dec) or if the birth is really quick, it's her 2nd and she's paid out nearly £5,000 ?

How your friends IM handles this should be in somewhere in the small print of the contract, but they would be unlikely to offer a partial refund in this circumstance.

IIRC from previous occasions, they'll get there as soon as they can. Many/most IMs will have introduced you to a back up, often with the intention that they'll be there as a 2nd MW at the birth (although some IM's work alone) but also to provide additional cover in case of problems (illness, attending another birth, stuck in traffic, etc). I know for DD2 my IM was concerned I might go fast (DD1 was 7 hrs and 9lb 12) and one of the factors in picking a backup was how long it would take them to get to us.

I think in weather conditions like we had last winter you do the best you can. I'd rather stay at home with a MW trying to get to me than be giving birth at the side of the road while stranded in the snow trying to get into hospital! In those circumstances every one pulls together - another IM that lives closer might be called in (they're a pretty well integrated team), they'd call in a local CMW. Your friend wouldn't just be abandoned.

Re. the cost - before we booked our IM we were very focussed on the birth. Having been through 2 babies with IMs (DD1 only booked at 36 weeks) and comparing our IM experience with our and friends experiences with the NHS, most of the value comes from the pre and post-natal care.

Hope this is all unnecessary worry and your friend has straightforward pregnancy and easy birth with her chosen IM

My IM wasn't there for the birth, and we still paid full amount.

She was due to be there, but I ended up having to have elective c section instead of my planned home birth, and I had my DH in with me, they wouldn't let IM in the operating theatre.

my IM wasn't there for 3rd birth, same reason as bechka, and we paid full amount. ultimately you're paying for months of pre and post natal care, not just for the delivery.