Private Midwife V NHS Midwife

[bugaboo]

Is there a big diffrence between a private and NHS midwife?

depends where you live, if you are lucky enough to get continuity of care then go nhs. if you live in london this is unlikely. imo well worth the money to actually know and trust the person that helps you in labour...

I am also interested in this. How do you find one? Is it just for homebirths?

my midwife was good but i was incredibly lucky because of where i lived i got one to one midwife care on the nhs, don't understand why some areas get it and others don't. basically meant midwife came to see me at home or if i had to go to hospital i did not have to wait as she would be waiting for me! i was very very fortunate. check what kind of care you get before going for private one.

Would anyone know whee I could find a private midwife. If it means an easier pregnancy then I'll find the money. This will be my first baby and I want to feel as though Im being looked after. Also after reading some horror stories I want a midwife that has to be nice to me!!

Take a look at the {http://www.independentmidwives.org.uk\Independent Midwives Association} website.

I would definitely recommend having an independent midwife. I only arranged one very late into my last pregnancy, as we were moving house and I thought it would give me the best chance of having a home birth, wherever I was when I went into labour!

Other advantages for me were:
having someone at the labour who really knew what I wanted, rather than having to write a birth plan that wouldn't necessarily be read or followed

having someone who really wanted to hear or see how I was at each appointment and took time with me, rather than ticking me off the list and having to rush on to the next woman

loads of postnatal support, especially with breastfeeding

a confidence that even if something went wrong during labour they were experienced enough to deal with it and not suggest unnecessary interventions because they were scared or just following hospital imposed policy

These are just off the top of my head. It was well worth the money and if we have number 3 I shall be booking with independent midwives again. Was about to start a rant about the NHS not offering what women (or midwives) want but shall cut it short and go for a nap with ds instead!

oops, sorry my link didn't work, but it's the same one as SueW's anyway!

Sophable - where can you have REAL continuity of care ? That is VERY rare !
Bugaboo - your other (much cheaper) option would be to have a NHS birth with a doula. It is cheaper and does allow you to have continuous support for you and your DH/DP... the study below demonstrates how continuity of SUPPORT by non-hopsital staff is beneficial. A doula is there for you from very early on in labour... this isn't always/often the case of a midwife. It is also true that women who do have a doula (or an Ind. MW) are very unlikely to be disappointed with their birth. Actually I do know 2 women who had Ind. MW whose birth did not at all go according to their plans (there is NO guarantee of course) and were very upset with the whole experience... maybe because they had spent so much money did they unconsciously expect this to go better ???? I don't know. I also know plenty of women who had great experience with Ind. MWs.

Explore all option
To know more about doulas or find one go here

Here is the study:
Main results: Fifteen trials involving 12,791 women are included. Primary comparison: Women who had continuous intrapartum support were less likely to have intrapartum analgesia, operative birth, or to report dissatisfaction with their childbirth experiences. Subgroup analyses: In general, continuous intrapartum support was associated with greater benefits when the provider was not a member of the hospital staff, when it began early in labour, and in settings in which epidural analgesia was not routinely available.

Reviewers' conclusions: All women should have support throughout labour and birth.
Taken from here : www.update-software.com/abstracts/ab003766.htm

Strawberry - it is often for homebirths as some hospitals don't allow them to practice... you need to check with your hospital if they would allow her to come in and in what capacity.

Interestingly this is why one of my clients has changed her mind... she wanted an Ind. MW and then realised that all she would be is seen as a doula by her hospital so she has asked me to be her doula. I do 2 or 3 antenatal visits of 2 hours, I spend time antenatally with them on phone, e-mail (and text even!), I am there throughout labour and from very early on... and then I meet them postnatally at least once... as a BF counsellor I also support her when breatsfeeding.

i thought from what mears has said some bits of scotland? might be wrong.

we went private and i'd do it again (not private hosp, private midwife, tried for a homebirth, ended up in hospital but was v v supported and felt v safe cause of my midwives.

I've got a private mw for this pregnancy. Only had my booking in appointment so far but My God it couldn't have been more different from booking in last time with the nhs!
I do think it's disgraceful though that (in London particularly) only those who can afford to fork out thousands can guarantee continuity of care.

I am getting more interested in homebirth and/or doula/private MW the more I read about it. With DS, I had a birth plan which no-one was interested in. When I went into hosp, I was told they had to break my waters which I refused. They said the baby had be born within 12 hours as per their guidelines. I asked for an epidural which was given during transition - with hindsight this could have been managed differently. When 2nd stage started they said I had 1 hour to get baby out or they would intervene. They said on several occasions that it was all for the baby's safety. I was very upset for a long time after the birth even though DS was and is perfect! DH does not understand ANY of this and would have elective CS if it were him. At the time felt clueless and helpless. Have never really told anyone all this before and feel better for getting it off my chest. DH will not discuss homebirth and does not see point of paying someone to be with you in hospital. Rant over - thank you

Prepuce, thanks for the link to Doulas - I hadn't even heard of that word before ( thought it was a mumsnet abbreviation!!). Am I right in thinking that they are your pregnancy and post natal pals?

Bugaboo, what do you mean : "they are your pregnancy and post natal pals?"

Strawberry, so sorry to hear about your experience and I quite understand why you were upset. My reasons for using an IM were similar.

I'm not sure if this will help, but I have come to realise that with my dp it's better to give him the 'raw' material e.g. websites with research on them, than to tell him 'I've decided to do x because of y'. I find the articles and e-mail them to him saying 'this is quite interesting'. Then he can mull over the stuff himself and he doesn't feel like I've pushed him into something. {I also e-mail him uncontroversial stuff like the mumsnet developmental updates - so he doesn't feel like he's being hounded all the time .}

The homebirth.org site has some very good summaries of research into childbirth, if you think this approach might work for him.

Strawberry.... it is not HIS body and it is not HIS labour and experience to get over !!!!! Sorry but I feel quite strongly that it is all fine for men to have an opinion but at the end of the day... you are the one in pain, with the stitches, and... the bad memories and nightmare - not him!

Strawberry, do CAT me if you wish to; my DP was very very anti home birth for my second baby and nothing would convince him that it wasn't dangerous (DD1's birth went a bit pearshaped, and the labour was very long and painful too).

I ended up just ignoring him on the basis that he didn't bloody have to give birth.

Yes I know its' me who's got to actually give birth but I would at least like him onboard with the idea. i will get some info together and let hime read for himself. Also MW has offered to come and talk to us both about it.

Pupuce - are you a doula as well as BF counsellor?

Bugaboo - a doula is like a professional birth partner experienced in supporting women through childbirth. So not a qualified midwife but that may be an advantage if hospital won't allow private midwife. I hope I've got that right.

Yes strawberry I am a doula (and a BFC) but when I joined mumsnet I was a regular mum .... it was an idea of some mumsnetters that I become a doula.... so I have been posting for over 4 years and have been a doula for 2.
Yes I am a birth partner and I care for both the mum and dad throughout labour... it can be a 72 hour affair! Usually not though.... I am also a postnatal doula and I support a mother with her days old baby...

god strawberry, poor you. agree with pupuce's post...altho perhaps more gently...imo you couldn't spend money better if it works for you....

sophable

So Pupuce where are you based?! I am in South Bucks.

Actually had an interesting chat with DH tonight and I said if he would rather be pacing the corridor that's fine but I need a birth partner. He said he was up for it, knew what to expect this time, would go to active birth class with me. He really doesn't want to let me down - bless. He listened to why I thought DS's birth could have been managed differently and why it was important to me to do it better next time. SO we shall see just how much time and effort goes into this over next few weeks and re-assess.

No I am in Kent... but look here to find one. Most travel 45 minutes easily...

sorry to hijack but pupuce am very interested to see that you're a post-natal doula too. I saw a fabulous one on tv a few months ago and decided that's just what I need after the birth of no.2 in April. All the info I've found seems to focus on antenatal doulas though. I live in london (s/central) and I'm wondering how long in advance I need to book.

(I'm on hol next week but any tips/urls you can pass my way would be much appreciated.)

Check out the website I linked below... there are as many birth as postnatal doulas on it. They are all qualified. Be careful of agencies too.....
In London you need to book ASAP.... there is more demand than doulas available... CAT me if you want personal recommendations