FAQ

  • We cover all the London area providing we can get to you within a reasonable time and will request your location at the outset to ensure this.

  • Yes. You should always be able to find your midwife on the NMC (nursing and midwife council) register. It is illegal to practice or provide clinical support and advice in the UK if not registered here.

  • We only take a take a limited number of clients per month for labour support depending on the amount of midwives available during each period. This is to ensure there are no clashes and we can provide seamless continuity.

  • In order to secure your due date with the Midwives we need to receive both your signed contracts and deposit. Please note care is not agreed before this.

  • At Independent midwife London you will always have a second midwife who you will also be able to get to know during your pregnancy. This ensures that in unforeseen circumstances such as illness, there will still be continuity of care.

    For a homebirth one midwife is adequate support but we always have two midwives on call for your labour. This ensures adequate rest breaks for your midwives as well as being safer for you and your baby to have two midwives with you during your second stage of labour.

    If you are planning a hospital birth we will rotate approximately every 12 hours to ensure we are fresh and alert for you and your baby and can safely advice and help make assessments.

  • Midwifery is one of the most regulated professions in the world. A midwife is the lead professional in normal pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. A midwife provides all your antenatal, labour and postnatal care. They can recognise if things are not going well and take appropriate action. Doulas offer nonclinical support to women. They are not trained to provide any clinical care or advice. They can be a valuable resource for you during labour supporting you emotionally, physically, and practically.

  • Yes, at Independent Midwife London you can pay in agreed monthly instalments.

  • All visits will be at your home and are approximately an hour long.

  • If you are planning a homebirth we still recommend linking in with your local trust or private hospital, attending your booking appointment and having your 28 week bloods with your booked hospital. This is to ensure that if there is an emergency we can swiftly access care.

  • At Independent midwife London we pride ourself on providing the highest quality, best practice care. Many women under the care of hospitals are experiencing fragmented care with lack of continuity. We not only want to know you better to maintain best practice but we want you to know and have access to your midwives so that you feel safe and secure.

  • Normal gestation for low risk pregnancies is between 37-42 weeks. Your midwife is on call from 37 weeks of pregnancy. If labour starts before this we may still be able to accompany you to hospital but this cannot be guaranteed.

  • Normal gestation for low risk pregnancies is 37-42 weeks and post dates is after 42 weeks gestation. Most hospitals will discuss postdates around 41 weeks with you. We will give you information to make your own choices and help you determine and evaluate risk.

  • If your labour needs to be induced we will arrive at the hospital to support you once you are having regular contractions and/or are in established labour. We are unable to attend the antenatal induction area. Please note that it may take 48 hours to get to that stage, therefore we cannot be with you throughout the entire induction process. We will be on call for you during that period for advice and to ensure we are updated on your progress.

  • If you require a C-section, only one person is permitted into theatre with you. This is either your birth partner or independent midwife. After theatre you will be taken to a recovery bay for a few hours before going to the postnatal ward. Due to infection control guidelines we will be unable to attend recovery with you and so will see you again once home to start postnatal care.

  • No, we do not provide birth pools but we can recommend and give advice on which would be most suitable.