Private Midwifery Questions | Guided By You Midwifery

Questions you may have about private midwifery care

Clear answers to help you understand your options

Private Midwifery: Questions You Might Not Know to Ask

Considering a private midwife but not quite sure what you should be asking?

When people first start exploring private midwifery care, they often have lots of questions, including some they hadn't even thought of until we start talking.

Private midwifery doesn't have to mean choosing one particular type of birth, opting out of NHS care or committing to a complete package of care.

Here are some of the questions that might help you understand what having a private midwife can actually look like.

What's the difference between a private midwife and an independent midwife?

You'll often hear both terms used.

A private midwife is a qualified, registered midwife whose care you pay for privately. An independent midwife generally works independently rather than being employed by an NHS Trust or another maternity provider.

I am an independent private midwife, which means I work directly with the families I care for through Guided By You Midwifery.

Do I have to choose between a private midwife and the NHS?

No.

You can remain booked with NHS maternity services while also having private midwifery care. Many families choose to use both, keeping access to NHS scans, screening, hospital and specialist services while having the additional continuity and time that private care can provide.

Is private midwifery only for people planning a home birth?

Not at all.

Some families choose me specifically because they're planning a home birth, but private midwifery care can also support you if you're planning to give birth in hospital.

You might choose private antenatal care, hospital birth support, postnatal care, or a combination that works for you.

Can I book a private midwife if I'm already halfway through my pregnancy?

Yes, subject to availability.

You don't necessarily need to arrange private midwifery care at the beginning of pregnancy.

Sometimes families contact me later because their circumstances have changed, they're reconsidering their birth plans or they've realised they'd like more continuity and support.

It's always worth asking.

Do I have to book a complete pregnancy and birth package?

No.

Private midwifery doesn't have to be all or nothing.

You may want ongoing antenatal care, birth support or postnatal care, but you can also book individual appointments when you simply need some additional time, reassurance or support.

Can I have private postnatal care if you weren't my midwife during pregnancy?

Yes.

You don't need to have received your antenatal or birth care from me to have private postnatal support.

You may have given birth through the NHS, another private provider or with another midwife and then decide you'd appreciate some additional support once you're home with your baby.

Can my partner be involved in my appointments?

Absolutely.

Partners are very welcome to be involved. Having time together during pregnancy can also give partners an opportunity to ask their own questions and understand how they can support you during labour, birth and the early days with your baby.

Can I book antenatal education without having private midwifery care?

Yes.

My private antenatal education and birth preparation can be booked as a standalone service. You don't need to transfer your antenatal care to me or book a birth package.

The sessions can be tailored around your own plans, whether you're preparing for a home birth or hospital birth.

What happens if my pregnancy becomes more complicated?

Having a private midwife doesn't separate you from the wider maternity and medical services you may need.

If something arises that requires assessment or specialist care, I can discuss this with you and support you in accessing the appropriate services.

Private midwifery should work alongside the wider healthcare you need, not prevent you from accessing it.

What happens if I'm planning a home birth but need to go to hospital?

Planning a home birth doesn't mean pretending that transfer will never happen.

Part of preparing for a home birth is discussing circumstances in which hospital care may become appropriate and what would happen if your plans needed to change.

With my home birth care, if transfer becomes necessary, I travel to hospital with you and continue supporting you there.

Does my midwife leave as soon as my baby is born at home?

No.

My care doesn't finish the moment your baby arrives.

I remain with you after the birth while the appropriate checks and immediate postnatal care for you and your baby are completed, feeding is supported and I am satisfied that it is clinically appropriate for me to leave.

Can I have a private midwife if this isn't my first baby?

Of course.

Private midwifery isn't only for first pregnancies.

In fact, your previous experiences may be one of the reasons you're considering doing things differently this time. We can talk about what happened before, what's important to you now and what you'd like from your care during this pregnancy and birth.

What if I don't know what kind of birth I want yet?

You don't need to have everything decided before contacting me.

Pregnancy gives us time to talk through your options, look at evidence, discuss your individual circumstances and explore what matters to you.

My role isn't to decide how you should give birth. It's to give you information, time and support so that you can make informed decisions about your own care.

Is private midwifery just about having longer appointments?

No. Longer appointments are lovely, but they're only part of it.

One of the biggest differences is continuity of care.

It means getting to know your midwife and your midwife getting to know you. Your history, your preferences, what's important to you and the conversations you've already had all become part of that relationship.

You don't have to start from the beginning every time you meet.

Can a private midwife help with feeding my baby?

Yes.

Infant feeding support can be an important part of postnatal midwifery care. Whether you're breastfeeding, expressing, combination feeding or exploring the feeding options that work best for you and your baby, having individual support can give you time to ask questions, work through any difficulties and feel more confident.

You don't need to have had your pregnancy or birth care with me to ask for feeding support.

What if I only need some reassurance?

That's a perfectly valid reason to contact a midwife.

Not every appointment needs to be because something is wrong.

Sometimes you simply have questions, want an additional antenatal or postnatal check, need help making sense of information you've been given or would feel better having some dedicated time with an experienced midwife.

Can I talk to a private midwife about a previous birth?

Yes.

Sometimes you may want the opportunity to talk through a previous birth experience, whether it was recent or some time ago.

A birth debrief gives you dedicated time with an experienced midwife to talk through what happened, ask questions and explore anything you may still be thinking about. This can also be helpful when preparing for another pregnancy or birth.

What if I just want to talk to a midwife?

That's absolutely fine.

Sometimes you don't need an examination, a full appointment or ongoing private midwifery care. You might simply have questions, want to talk through something that's worrying you, discuss your options or have some dedicated time with an experienced midwife.

My WhatsApp support gives you a way to access midwifery support when what you really need is someone knowledgeable to talk to.

Can I contact my private midwife between appointments?

Yes.

One of the benefits of continuity of care is knowing who your midwife is and having support between your planned appointments.

If you have a question or something is worrying you, you don't necessarily have to wait until your next appointment to discuss it. Having that ongoing relationship also means you're speaking to a midwife who already knows you, your pregnancy and the conversations you've had.

Can a private midwife help me with birth planning?

Yes.

Birth planning is about much more than writing a list of preferences. We can spend time exploring your options, talking through what matters to you and looking at the evidence around the choices available to you.

Your birth plan can include your preferences for labour and birth as well as what you would like if circumstances change, helping you feel informed and prepared while keeping your plans personal to you.

How do I know whether private midwifery care is right for me?

You don't have to know before you contact me.

You might be looking for continuity, more time during appointments, additional support alongside NHS care, a home birth, help preparing for birth or simply the reassurance of knowing your midwife.

That's why I offer a free initial consultation. We can talk about what you're looking for, how I work and whether the care I offer feels right for you.

There is no pressure to book.

Book a free 20-minute consultation

A Midwife You Can Get to Know

Private midwifery care can look different for every family.

For some, it means having the same midwife throughout pregnancy, birth and the weeks afterwards.

For others, it's additional antenatal appointments, support for a home or hospital birth, antenatal education or some extra help once their baby has arrived.

Guided By You Midwifery provides personalised private midwifery care across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

If you'd like to find out what your care could look like, you can arrange a free 20 minute consultation and we can talk it through together.

Book a 20 Minute Free Consultation