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More than appointments, midwifery care built around you and your baby
What Does a Private Midwife Actually Do?
More time, continuity and personalised midwifery care, built around you.
What Is a Private Midwife?
A private midwife is a qualified, registered midwife who provides maternity care outside the usual NHS maternity pathway.
You can choose private midwifery care for different stages of your journey. You may want support throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, or you may simply want additional support at a particular point.
Choosing a private midwife does not necessarily mean choosing between private care and the NHS.
My care can work alongside NHS maternity services, giving you additional time, continuity and personalised support while making sure you can access wider maternity and medical services when you need them.
What Is Different About Private Midwifery Care?
One of the biggest differences is time.
Having longer, less rushed appointments gives us the opportunity to talk properly.
There is time for your clinical care, but also time for questions, conversations, birth preparation and the things that may be worrying you.
The other major difference is continuity.
Rather than repeatedly meeting someone new, you have the opportunity to build a relationship with a midwife who gets to know you throughout your care.
I learn what matters to you, what you are hoping for, what you are worried about and how you like to be supported.
And you get to know me too.
What Does a Private Midwife Do During Pregnancy?
Private antenatal care includes the clinical care you would expect from a midwife, alongside time to prepare for birth and becoming a parent.
Depending on your individual care, appointments may include maternal observations such as blood pressure and urine testing, measuring your growing baby, listening to your baby's heartbeat at the appropriate stage, discussing screening and test results, and talking about your physical and emotional wellbeing.
But an antenatal appointment is not simply a list of checks.
We can talk about how you are feeling, your previous experiences, your choices, birth preferences, feeding, worries, relationships, work, family life and whatever else is important to you.
Sometimes the question that has been going around your head all week is just as important to you as the blood pressure reading.
There should be time for both.
Do I Still Have NHS Maternity Care?
You can still access NHS maternity services when receiving private midwifery care.
Exactly how your private and NHS care work together will depend on the type of care you choose and your individual circumstances.
You may still access NHS scans, screening, consultant appointments, hospital services and specialist maternity care where appropriate.
If something develops during your pregnancy that needs medical or specialist assessment, I will discuss it with you and help you access the appropriate service.
Private midwifery is not about keeping you away from the NHS.
It is about giving you another layer of personalised maternity care.
Will I Have the Same Midwife?
Continuity is one of the reasons many families consider private midwifery.
With my care, you have the opportunity to build a relationship with a midwife who knows your history, your preferences and what matters to you.
That can mean not having to start again at every appointment or repeatedly explain previous experiences and concerns.
By the time you approach birth, you are not meeting a stranger.
You are being supported by someone you know and trust.
Can a Private Midwife Help Me Prepare for Birth?
Absolutely. Birth preparation is much more than writing a birth plan.
We can talk about how labour begins, what happens during labour, positions and movement, pain relief, induction, caesarean birth, feeding, the role of your birth partner and what may happen if circumstances change.
We can also talk through your birth preferences and make sure you understand the choices available to you.
Good preparation is not about trying to control every detail of birth.
It is about helping you feel informed and involved, even if the path changes along the way.
Can a Private Midwife Support My Birth?
Yes.
Depending on the care you choose and your individual circumstances, I can provide midwifery support for birth.
For some families that means planning a home birth, with continuity from a midwife they already know.
For others it may mean additional support surrounding a hospital birth.
We can discuss your individual circumstances, where you are considering giving birth and what kind of support you are looking for.
What Happens if My Pregnancy Becomes More Complicated?
Private midwifery does not mean pretending pregnancy and birth never become complicated.
Part of being an experienced midwife is recognising when something needs further investigation, medical assessment or specialist care.
If I identify something that concerns me, I will explain it to you.
We can talk about why further assessment is recommended, what may happen next and what questions you might want to ask.
Where appropriate, I will work alongside other maternity and medical professionals involved in your care.
Personalised care and safe clinical care should work together.
Can a Private Midwife Help if I Am Planning a Caesarean?
Yes.
Choosing or needing a caesarean birth does not mean that personalised midwifery support stops being relevant.
There is still plenty to prepare for and plenty of choices that can matter to you.
We can talk about what happens before, during and after a caesarean, your preferences for the birth, feeding, skin-to-skin, recovery and what to expect when you return home.
Support can also continue after birth, including caesarean wound care and recovery.
What Does a Private Midwife Do After the Birth?
Having your baby does not mean that all the questions suddenly disappear.
Quite often, that's when a whole new set begins.
Private postnatal care can include checking your physical recovery, emotional wellbeing, feeding support, weighing and checking your baby, answering newborn questions and giving you time to adjust to life with your new baby.
We can also talk about your birth and how you experienced it.
For families who do not want ongoing postnatal care, I also offer a single private postnatal appointment at home.
Can I Book a Private Midwife for Just One Appointment?
Yes.
You do not have to book a complete package of care to receive support from me.
You may want a single private antenatal appointment at home because you have questions, want additional reassurance or would value some dedicated time with an experienced midwife.
After birth, you can also book a single private postnatal appointment at home.
That might be for a general check-in, blood pressure check, caesarean wound assessment, perineal healing, baby weight, feeding support, a birth debrief or simply some reassurance.
Sometimes one appointment is exactly what you need.
Is Private Midwifery Only for Home Birth?
No.
Private midwifery and home birth are not the same thing.
Some of the families I care for choose home birth, while others plan to give birth in hospital or have a planned caesarean.
You can also choose private support for pregnancy or the postnatal period without having private birth care at all.
Your care should reflect what you need rather than requiring you to fit into a particular type of birth.
Is a Private Midwife Worth It?
There isn't one answer to this because every family values different things.
For some women, having more time at appointments is important.
For others, it is knowing who their midwife will be, having continuity throughout pregnancy, feeling comfortable asking questions, having additional support after a previous difficult experience or knowing that somebody understands their birth preferences before labour begins.
Private midwifery is an investment, and I believe you should understand exactly what you are choosing before you make that decision.
That is why I am always happy to talk about the care I offer and whether it is appropriate for you.
Why Choose Me as Your Private Midwife?
Choosing private care is one decision.
Choosing your midwife is another.
Qualifications and clinical experience matter, but so does finding somebody you feel comfortable talking to and trust to care for you during an incredibly personal time in your life.
My approach is based on listening, continuity, kindness, respect and evidence-based care.
I want you to feel able to ask questions, understand your options and be genuinely involved in decisions about your pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
Private Midwifery That Is Guided By You
There is no single version of private maternity care that suits everybody.
You may want continuity throughout your whole journey.
You may want additional support alongside your NHS care.
Or you may simply need one appointment at a time when some extra reassurance would make a difference.
My role is to understand what you need, provide safe and experienced midwifery care and help you feel informed and supported along the way.
That is what Guided By You Midwifery is about.
Get in Touch
If you are considering private midwifery and would like to understand how it could work for you, please get in touch.
I provide personalised private midwifery care across London, Essex and Hertfordshire, including antenatal care, birth support and postnatal care.
You don't need to know exactly what type of care you want before contacting me.
We can start with a conversation.