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Sometimes one visit is all you need for reassurance, support and peace of mind
Single Private Postnatal Appointment at Home
Sometimes you don't need a package of care. You just need a midwife.
Postnatal Care When You Need It
You don't need to be receiving ongoing private postnatal care with me to book a single appointment.
Perhaps you would like your baby weighed, want your caesarean wound checked, need a blood pressure check, have questions about your recovery or feeding, would like to talk through your birth, or simply feel that you and your baby would benefit from a general postnatal check-in.
A single private postnatal appointment at home gives you dedicated time with an experienced midwife, focused on what you need that day.
What Can We Cover During a Private Postnatal Appointment?
Every family is different, so there isn't a fixed checklist that every appointment has to follow.
We can focus our time on the things that are important or concerning you.
Your appointment might include:
A general postnatal check for you and your baby
Blood pressure and other maternal observations where appropriate
Checking your caesarean wound and recovery
Checking perineal healing following a tear, episiotomy or stitches
Weighing your baby
Talking about feeding and any concerns you have
Discussing your physical recovery after birth
Talking about your emotional wellbeing
A birth debrief and time to talk through your birth experience
Newborn questions and reassurance
Or simply a general check-in when you would like the reassurance of an experienced midwife.
You don't need to know exactly what you need before I arrive. Sometimes the reason for booking is simply, "I'd feel better if a midwife came and checked us."
A Postnatal Check for Mum
After birth, so much attention naturally turns towards your new baby, but your recovery matters too.
During your appointment, we can talk about how you are feeling physically and emotionally and carry out appropriate postnatal checks depending on your individual needs.
This might include checking your blood pressure and other observations, discussing bleeding, pain, bladder or bowel concerns, looking at wound or perineal healing, or simply giving you the opportunity to talk about how your recovery is going.
If anything needs further assessment or treatment, I will explain my concerns and advise you about the appropriate next step.
Blood Pressure and Maternal Observations
There are many reasons you might want or need your blood pressure checked after having your baby.
Perhaps you had raised blood pressure during pregnancy, were advised to have further checks after birth, or simply want reassurance.
Where appropriate, I can carry out maternal observations during your home visit and discuss the findings with you.
A single private appointment does not replace any follow-up or monitoring that has been specifically arranged by your NHS maternity team or GP, so it is important to continue with any care you have already been advised to have.
Caesarean Wound Checks
If you have had a caesarean birth, you may want reassurance that your wound appears to be healing as expected.
I can check your caesarean wound, talk to you about your recovery and answer questions about caring for yourself at home.
If I identify anything that concerns me, such as signs that your wound may need further assessment, I will explain this to you and advise you where to seek appropriate care.
Perineal Healing, Tears and Episiotomy
Recovery following a vaginal birth can bring questions too.
If you have experienced a perineal tear, episiotomy or stitches, we can talk about your recovery and I can assess healing where appropriate and with your consent.
You can also ask about discomfort, hygiene, pelvic floor recovery or anything that doesn't feel quite right.
These are very personal concerns, and you should never feel embarrassed about asking.
Baby Weight Checks at Home
Sometimes the main reason for booking is simply to have your baby weighed.
Your baby's weight is considered alongside the bigger picture, including feeding, wet and dirty nappies, behaviour and how both you and your baby are doing.
If you have questions or concerns about feeding or your baby's weight, we can talk through those during the appointment rather than treating the number on the scales in isolation.
Feeding Support and Reassurance
Whether you are breastfeeding, expressing, formula feeding or combining different methods, feeding a new baby can bring plenty of questions.
During your appointment, we can talk about how feeding is going, what you are noticing and any concerns you have.
Where appropriate, I can observe a feed and offer practical midwifery support.
If you or your baby need more specialist feeding assessment or support, I will be open about that and help you understand where to seek it.
Your Emotional Wellbeing
A postnatal appointment isn't only about physical checks.
I will also ask how you are.
The early postnatal period can involve enormous physical and emotional adjustment. You may be feeling wonderful, exhausted, overwhelmed, emotional, anxious, or several of those things at once.
Having some dedicated time to talk can sometimes be just as valuable as the clinical checks.
If something you tell me makes me concerned about your emotional or mental wellbeing, we can discuss what further support may be appropriate.
Birth Debrief
You may want to use some or all of your appointment to talk about your birth.
Perhaps things happened that you did not expect, you have questions about decisions that were made, or there are parts of the experience you would simply like to understand better.
You don't need to describe your birth as traumatic to want to talk about it.
A single postnatal appointment can give you dedicated time for a birth debrief, where we can talk through your experience and how your birth felt to you.
A General Check-In for You and Your Baby
You don't actually need to have a specific reason to book an appointment.
Sometimes everything appears to be going reasonably well, but you would still appreciate an experienced midwife coming to your home, checking how you and your baby are doing and giving you time to ask all those little questions that have accumulated since the birth.
Reassurance is a perfectly valid reason to ask for support.
Do I Need to Have Had My Pregnancy or Birth Care With You?
No.
You can book a single private postnatal appointment with me even if I have never cared for you before.
You may have received all of your pregnancy and birth care through the NHS, another private maternity provider or another midwife.
We will start by talking about your pregnancy, birth, medical history and how things have been since your baby arrived so that I can understand what support you need.
What if I Need More Support Afterwards?
Sometimes one appointment is all you need.
If, after your visit, you decide that you would benefit from further private postnatal support, we can talk about the options available.
There is no obligation to book ongoing care simply because you have booked a single appointment.
Equally, if something requires assessment or treatment from your maternity unit, GP or another healthcare professional, I will tell you.
Private midwifery care should work alongside the wider healthcare you need.
When Should I Seek Urgent Medical Help?
A private postnatal appointment is not an emergency service.
If you or your baby are seriously unwell, you have severe symptoms, or you believe either of you needs urgent medical attention, please seek urgent NHS medical care rather than waiting for a private appointment.
If you're unsure whether something can wait, it is always appropriate to contact your maternity unit, GP, NHS 111 or emergency services as appropriate.
Postnatal Care That Fits Around You
Some families want regular private postnatal care.
Others simply want one appointment at a particular point when they need some extra reassurance, clinical care or time with a midwife.
Both are completely reasonable.
The purpose of a single appointment is simple: to give you access to experienced, personalised postnatal midwifery care when you need it, without requiring you to book a package of care.
Get in Touch
If you would like to arrange a single private postnatal appointment at home, please get in touch and tell me a little about what you would like support with.
I provide private postnatal home visits across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Whether you need a particular check, have a question or simply want some reassurance, we can make the appointment about what matters to you and your baby.