Private midwife?

[Amnewtoallthis]

Has anyone used one? My experience with DD (gave birth in January 2009) wasn't very reassuring. I had an emergency c-s after being induced, and even that was after attempts at ventouse and forceps delivery(ies). And to top it all my epidural went wrong so I was actually really unwell, so unwell I couldn't sit up and eat. When I was discharged after 8 days they didn't let the community midwives know, so as result we didn't have a visit till two days after she was born, and by then my daughter's weight had dropped over 10% and I had soaring blood pressure (they had failed to give me any pain relief - can you imagine!) I was told I had to formula feed her and had to have a high fat diet myself, otherwise they would have sent both of us back to hospital. As a result I had to give up breastfeeding and had PND (which lifted as soon as I started running again). This time round I want proper care and I want to breastfeed for at least 12 weeks if I can. Hoping a private midwife might help with this.

How awful, you poor thing, big hug from me - no one should have to go through that.

I don't know anything about midwives, but my friend had a private maternity nurse who (I quote) 'saved her sanity and was an absolute godsend' to help her through the first 2 weeks post birth. She had twins and a caesarian. Having an experienced professional to help her, and take over so that she could sleep, shower etc was a huge help. I am looking into doing the same.

panicnotanymore that sounds helpful - although my mum and sister live down the road from me. Although I am thinking that second time round I'm going to be more demanding. Because of my age (42) and previous c-s I'm already minded that I'll go for an elective c/s. Which might make things a bit easier.

Maternity nurses live in and are on call 24/7 (although obviously they have to sleep ), help you with bf and you can also arrange for them to help with DD1 when you are with the baby, so are worth their weight in gold. Worth looking into. If you are having an elective c/s I'm not sure what value a private midwife before the birth would be.

I'll be 40 on the big day so also an old gimmer and am using my great age as justification for being v demanding!!!!

Actually I'm wrong, you don't have to book them 24/7, they also will do just days or just nights....

I had a private midwife for my first pregnancy/baby and I can honestly say it was the best money I have spent in a long time. We had a package that started at 7 months pregnant so I knew all three of them (they worked in rotation so that there would always be someone to attend the birth) really well by the time I gave birth. I had a pretty traumatic birth - I was induced over a period of three days and many things didn't work/went wrong. Having an experienced midwife by my side the whole time really helped to keep me calm. When the hospital midwives were too busy, she was there to explain everything that was going on. Also after three hours of pushing my DD got stuck and had to be delivered by ventouse. My biggest fear was having an episiotomy and I had stated in my birth plan that I really didn't want one unless absolutely necessary. They were going to do one as apparently they don't do ventouse deliveries without. However, my midwife stepped in and said would they please try without as I had made it clear that I really didn't want one and had been through enough already. They said it would be a slower process but would happily give it a go if I did exactly as they said. I didn't end up having to have one stitch!! I also hated my post natal ward so my midwife just signed me out and told the hospital there was nothing extra they could do for me there that she couldn't do for me at home! After that she came to my house for visits for 6 weeks. Every day for the first week, every other day for the second week and so on and so forth. It was the best support I could have wished for. I am now pregnant with DC2 and if I can afford it I will definitely be hiring her again. Especially giving birth in a very busy central London hospital it is reassuring to have a qualified midwife with you at every step of the way.