Independent MW or doula? And any recommendations for Milton Keynes?

[zipzap]

Hi there

Just wondering if anybody has had any experience of using an independent MW and/or doula in Milton Keynes - and if they could recommend anybody... I'm getting quite a long way on in my pregnancy and most of the I-MW seem to charge a fixed price regardless of how much ante-natal care they provide which makes it seem very expensive but don't want to be a cheapskate if it is worth it. On the other hand, not sure if there is going to be a severe lack of MW at the hospital if it would be more prudent to get a MW rather than a doula.

And indeed if they have got any other tips about using Milton Keynes hospital to give birth - it's my local hospital but recently it seems to have had very bad press (babies dying, not giving c-sections soon enough, severe shortages of staff, etc). To the point that they seem to have been 'awarded' the distinction of being 'Worst Maternity Unit in the UK' and 'Worst Maternity Unit in the South East' recently, so am beginning to panic a bit.

I've been trying to get hold of local nct information for classes since november without success, and having had a bad experience first time around in a major london teaching hospital that is supposed to be pretty good, as the birth draws closer I'm really beginning to panic . I haven't been in MK for very long so don't really know anybody locally who has given birth here to ask for advice.

Many thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Zipzap

I am in MK too and I have booked a doula. There is one in MK called Julie Hickey (I am sure she wouldn't mind being recommended), she work as a team with another doula in Northampton called Clare I think. She is very nice and very professional and wasn't counting her time at the initial visit. I didn't book her in the end (I booked a herts doula) but it was really a close call between her and the doula I booked, and only because personality wise, my DH got on better with the herts one.

I also think there is a student doula in leighton buzzard

In relation to the hospital, I understand why you are concerned (so am I in a way) although apparenlty if you look on their website, they published a statement after that study saying that some information hadn't been taken into consideration and also that they are heavily recruiting midwives. This said I am toying with the idea of having a home birth (but think I might be too chicken)

How many weeks are you?

Don't know about the Independant Midwives though as this is not something I have looked into because you cannot take you IM in hospital (hence why I chose the doula)

Re NCT it took me ages to have someone coming back to me, and in the meantime I have decided to do hypnobirthing classes as I too had a bad experience first time round (wasn't in MK though, near London)

Unfortunately I haven't been here a long time, I go to aquanatal classes in Newport Pagnell and have tried to ask about previous births in MK but haven't managed to get a lot of information so far.

I hope this helps

Thanks Needahand, info much appreciated.

I'm due in about 6 weeks so not sure that they will have done much in the way of recruiting new midwives before I need them!

I figured that the IMW wouldn't be able to practise midwifery per se if they came into hospital with me but on the other hand figured they would know what to do if there was an emergency... (was about to type if push came to shove but maybe that's not really an appropriate phrase to use here !) Thought they were allowed to come into hospital with you as a birth partner if you wanted them too though. Am meeting one IMW this week so will find out then.

I also know that I have left it horribly late to get it all sorted, started looking on the internet before christmas and somehow I have blinked and it is now two months later.

Will have to try to make a concerted effort to contact nct again and see what else I can find in this bit of MK...

Thanks again.

Zipzap check out this site:

www.independentmidwives.org.uk/

You need to type in your full post code then hopefully they will come up with some options for you.

If the idea is that you want someone with medical knowledge who can back you up in hospital and liaise with the staff there to help manage your care - although you're right she won't be able to deliver you - the IM is for you. Mine is v diplomatic, knows loads of midwives and doctors in the local hospitals, and is a genuine star and font of all knowledge and good things. One thing to bear in mind is that from what I understand from others who have also had IMs is that you can find some who prefer to do home births only, and some of the ideology that can go along with this may not suit you.

I'm sure doulas are great as well and will know loads and maybe also have contacts in the hospitals as well, if this is important to you. For me, a medical background and the authority that comes with that was very important for a number of reasons, hence the IM choice.

Look on the Find A Doula page. Put in your postcode and see who comes up. Then you can call/email etc and see how you get on

If I think of any MK doulas I'll let you know!

Hi Zipzap

Did you see you IMW yet? Let me know how it goes. For the NCT I have the feeling you might have left it too late. There are not that reactive you know! If you only have 6 weeks to go, you might be cutting it fine.

since that last time I posted I finally made up my mind and think I would like a home birth. Fingers crossed I can get one.

You should come to the aquanatal classes in Newport Pagnell (middleton pool on Sunday at 6.00pm) they are really good.

All the best

Hi there

Thanks for that.

I was going to see an IMW this week but one of her charges went into labour so hopefully will now see her early next week.

I'd got the names of the local doulas and IMWs off the various sites, I was just wondering if anybody had had any experience with them (both specifics and in general) - so thanks Harriet, was useful to see that you liked yours and that NeedAH you had investigated doulas locally... Am hoping that my dh and I get along with the IMW I'm going to see next week as she lives really close by, so will be nice and reassuring to have somebody who can be there quite quickly! On the other hand, she only does a full package, regardless of when you start with her; there is one about 30 mins away tht does do a hospital package that is about half the price which is quite tempting!

Not sure if I will make it along to aquanatal classes - not least as my MIL is staying this weekend but it can be a difficult time to get out, and because I haven't got around to getting a maternity swimsuit so definitely wouldn't have anything to wear!

I'm sure I have left it too late for the nct, still keep meaning to contact them to see if they run any coffee mornings etc just as a way to meet people or get out once the baby is born. And if I do manage to get a doula or IMW then will get them to just talk me through it instead.

Have also realised that, as of tomorrow, I'm actually going to be 36 weeks - arrgh. have lost a week somewhere along the line, and still so much that I mean to do that gets lost cos I'm tired or spd means that I can't walk as far or fast as I plan on doing.

Good luck with the home birth needahand - how long have you got to wait (you sound much more organised than me!)

And thanks to all for their help

oops - meant to add much appreciated on the end of that post before hitting post - I'm blaming it on the baby brain

My dsis is currently 18wks and has been looking for NCT classes in MK is there not one. She is desperate to find birthing classes in her area. Do any of you know of any NCT teachers in Milton Keynes?

She's not in Milton Keynes but Helen Sassoon was my Doula for DS3's birth (I'm all the way up in Northamptonshire! - so you're a lot closer to her) and she was FABULOUS.

Hi Zipzap

Re Doula, we have actually terminated our contract with ours because of "incompatibility". I think with insight I made a mistake and should have chosen Julie. I thought about calling her again but have decided that perhaps a doula is not what I need after all.

Re home birth, my MW is the one who has implented the idea in my head, each time I go and see her, she mentions it, and I think she has a point.

Have made more research about MK hospital and it doesn't look good....

I am sure the IMW will be able to assist you if you don't go to your antenatal classes. Otherwise there is a good book called gentle birth by Janet Balask, I think she gives you ideas about positions etc

I am only 25 weeks, still a long way to go. Good luck with everything and let me know how it goes. And yes the NCT does run coffee mornings (although I haven't made the enquiry just yet). I have the e-mail of the lady who runs them but haven't e-mailed yet.

Juliewoolie they do NCT classes in MK but not "refresher classes" only for first time mums. It takes a lot of perseverance to go through and manage to speak to someone though (I had to call at least 5 times and be quite insistent). I was only interested in the refreshers so I haven't done the NCT classes in the end

Hi Needahand

Sorry to hear that you have had to terminate your contract with your doula - but it seems that you have got a good relationship with your local m/w and that she is actively supportive of your wanting a home birth so that seems pretty good.

We've decided to go with the local IMW - on the one hand it seems horrendously extravagant, especially as she doesn't do a hospital birth package with just a couple of ante and post natal visits along with the actual birth as some people do, just a fixed fee for the birth and up to ten ante-natal visits and up to ten post natal visits. So the fact that I am signing up late means that I just won't get all those ten antenatal visits and who knows how many post natal visits I'll need.

But on the other hand, she is very local and there are a few other factors that were what decided it for us. And I guess if we look back and think 'why did we spend all that money when we didn't need to...' then I'll have had a good birth, there won't have been any problems and that in itself will be a good thing. Especially as like you the more I look into MK Hospital the more I think and arrrgghhhh!

She also has worked at MK hospital and although she won't be allowed to do any of the actual birthing when I'm there, I think that it will provide reassurance etc. Plus should there be an emergency she said that she is allowed to step in and do something (eg if rescusitation was needed) until the real staff turned up and took over, so I guess that is probably the time when you would want her to do something if necessary!

I finally managed to get hold of somebody to organise going to local antenatal classes - although half way through happened to mention that it was very different system to first time around in London where the classes were at the hospital, dates set a year in advance and you turned up to the ones you wanted to go to. At which point she said that you only are supposed to have them if you are a first time mum but that as I hadn't been in MK before she guessed it would be ok. so supposed to go next week - but with easter in the way, not sure that I will actually make it to the end of the classes!

am half hoping that I will just talk through everything with the IMW to refresh my memory of what's what but talking to her today she sounded quite enthusiastic about coming along too - and as the only spaces were available in a group that was out of my area and giving birth a chunk later than I am due, it's not like it is going to be a close antenatal group of friends. so not sure if I'll go or not now.

and according to the IMW, apparently there hasn't been much support for the nct locally which is why it is so difficult to get through and they don't run many classes. unless they get new blood in, the way things are going, it may well be winding down and finishing soon.

Good luck to you too, will let you know how things go!

Zip Zap sounds like you made the right decision. I don't think spending that kind of money is that extravagant you know. Of course it is a lot of money but then it is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life so I would see it as an investment!The postnatal visits definitely sound good. I did think about IMW at the beginning of my pgcy but was nowhere near ready in my head with the idea of a home birth...the difference a few month (and some bad press make!)
You must be quite relieved to have everything sorted now!

Glad you sorted your antenatal classes pb too. Although if it is not your first and you have an IMW you probably won't need it anyway. I decided to skip them myself but will join NCT afterward to meet some mums as I don't want to be isolated.

I hope you have a great experience. Keep in touch afterwards (or before if you fancy a chat)

I'm a trainee Doula living in Aylesbury and would be willing to travel to Milton Keynes. I charge £150 which includes 2 antenatal visits and 2 postnatal visits. I also have some Breast feeding councelling experience. You can find out more about me on Herts Doulas, feel free to get in touch.

I've only just spotted this thread but just wanted to add, I'm based in Northampton and am a Doula, I cover MK (well anywhere within approx 1hr of northampton) if anyone still needs help/support
www.doulamamma.co.uk

Can't comment on MK, but we had IMs for our DD's birth (at home) last April. We didn't sign on till about 36 weeks. Yes it was expensive, but it was without doubt the best money we ever spent. One of the reasons we used IMs was that DD was breech and the NHS just aren't that supportive of vaginal breech birth . The birth was pretty straight forward and I felt I gained a lot from knowing exactly who was going to be turning up when I was in labour. I also didn't need much help postnataly, but it was still incredibly reassuring to have a known face that I trusted turn up every few days just to have a chat and tell me "yes, it's hard. You're doing really well. It does get easier" (and it meant I didn't have to go and visit the midwife at a post natal clinic - the IMs came to me ).

That's enough waffle . Glad you found someone and hope it all goes well for you

Hi,
I am the Doula, Helen Sassoon, recommended by juliewoolie, above.
I live in Rickmansworth and am very happy to travel to Milton Keynes to help with your births - it only takes me about 50 minutes to get there.
I have had great feedback (which I can show you) on my deep tissue massage and a type of hypnobirthing I have developed (no previous practice necessary on the part of the labouring woman); plus I can offer a variety of other assistance, including homeopathy and Reiki.
You can mail me on - [email protected]
I am on Doula Uk website (doula.org.uk) and on the Herts Doulas site (herts doulas).
Good luck with your births!

From gdner.

Hi All
I was sent this forum by a colleague who saw my name and thought I might like to reply, I am the doula Julie Hickey mentioned above by zipzap.

I have been a birth doula in Milton Keynes for ten years, but most of my births have been out of the area.

For those of you that are interested in finding out about doulas and what we are all about by far the best way is to go onto the doula uk website www.doula.org.uk where you will find all the information you need plus the find-a-doula in your area search facility.

IM are really great but to make full use of them they really need to be booked early so that they take over your antenatal care, they are not allowed to assist with births in hospitals due to insurance, so in hospital they take on a doulas role.

Finally I'm so sorry to hear you had problems with your doula zipzap, but pleased to hear you are thinking about a home birth, I'd still be happy to support you if you change your mind about booking a doula.

Cheers
Doulaly

Hi Doulaly

It is me who recommended you (you are great!) and who had problem with my doula. I am still thinking about it but I have to say that the experience did put me off having a doula a bit . Thanks for the offer though, I will think about it and will definitely let you know if I change my mind.