Independent midwives

An independent midwife is a fully-qualified and registered midwife who is self employed on either a full or part-time basis.  She provides care to you in the place that you choose: at your home, hospital or birthing centre.

She will be in charge of all your antenatal checks and will also be with you when you give birth. For women who feel it is very important to have continuous care from the same person, an independent midwife may be the answer.

Independent midwives don't work inside the NHS, but work privately, so you will have to pay them for their services. Some midwives work in specialist units and if you need to see an obstetrician, they will be able to help you with that. Independent midwives are a popular choice for women planning a home birth. If you opt to have a home birth, you will contact your midwife to join you when your contractions are coming consistently every 15 minutes (or faster) and when they last for a good minute or so. Your midwife, once she has established you are in labour, will come to your house to help you give birth.

Your midwife will be able to deal with a normal delivery (and can provide you with pain relieving drugs like entonox and pethidine), and is equipped with resuscitation and intravenous equipment just in case, but if there were a serious problem, you would be transferred to hospital immediately and your midwife will assess every home birth for its suitability as it progresses. If you did need to be transported to hospital, in response to a complication, your midwife will be able to arrange this emergency intervention

Independent midwives usually have the philosophy of one mother, one baby, so you'll see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and at all antenatal checks and also at the birth and labour.

Is it safe to use an independent midwife?
Independent midwives are subject to the same requirements as any midwife practising in the NHS and have to fulfill the same requirements in terms of professional updating and supervisory reviews. The concerns surrounding indemnity insurance and liabilities have now resulted in restricted choice for women wanting this provision and it has meant that many independent midwives cannotcare for their clients in NHS hospitals.

Up until 1994, all midwives were covered by the Royal College of Midwives indemnity scheme, but amidst much controversy this has been withdrawn. Insurers are also unwilling to insure Independent midwives which means that whilst independent midwives are unhappy about it, they are forced to practise without insurance. The Independent Midwives Association (IMA) continues to campaign publicly about this issue.

This does not mean that Independent midwives are not regulated, in fact midwifery is one of the most regulated professions in the UK. All Independent midwives are subject to yearly visits and equipment checks and must notify their NHS appointed Supervisor of Midwives of their 'intention to practise' every April.

What happens if there is an emergency during birth and labour?
All Independent midwives will carry appropriate emergency equipment such as Oxegen, suction and bag and mask. They also carry drugs in case a woman is bleeding heavily for example. they will all be trained in neonatal resuscitation and emergency homebirths.

How much does it cost to have an independent midwife?
Depending on the package you receive, the going rate for full care including pregnancy and birth is somewhere between £1,800 and £4,500. This varies depending on where you live.

If you are interested in further investigating this type of caregiver, you can find an independent midwife by contacting the UK Independent Midwives Association.
Tel: 0845 4600 105 or email: information@independentmidwives.org.uk

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.