Frequently Asked Questions
What is an independent midwife?
An independent midwife provides midwifery care outside and alongside the NHS system. Independent midwives, like NHS midwives, are registered with the NMC, have undertaken a 3 year university degree and must have indemnity insurance in order to provide care. They have the same referral rights as an NHS midwife, which means if needed they can refer you directly to other healthcare professionals (with your consent) in the hospital team ie. an obstetric doctor. Check out our care packages here.
What qualifications do you have?
We are both qualified midwives, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). We both trained at Kingston University for 3 years to gain this qualification. Sophie is trained to undertake the Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE), an additional qualification gained from City, University of London. We both hold masters’ degrees – Sophie in Advanced Practice (Midwifery) and Natasha in Global Health and Development, obtained from City, University of London and University College London, respectively.
Do you have insurance?
We are insured to provide both antenatal and postnatal care through the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). For labour care, our insurance is provided through SK Underwriting Ltd. via our ZEST registration. We are legally required to have this to both provide labour & birth care at home and attend births in hospital in a non-clinical capacity.
When can I book an independent midwife?
You can hire an independent midwife as soon as you find out you’re pregnant! Some people choose to have all of their care in pregnancy from an independent midwife from as early as 8-9 weeks of pregnancy, and others may hire one later in the pregnancy. The latest we would book someone is 36-37 weeks because we need time to build a relationship with our clients – that’s what results in good outcomes!
Can I still access NHS care if I have an independent midwife?
Absolutely. Independent midwifery services and the NHS are not mutually exclusive. We will refer to and liaise with our NHS colleagues (with your consent) when needed. If you choose to have certain screening tests we recommend that you access these at your local NHS maternity unit ie. ultrasound scans and blood tests. For this reason, we recommend that you book your pregnancy with us and your local maternity unit to make the process of booking these tests easier. You can alternatively choose to have ultrasound scans and blood tests privately.
Can I have an independent midwife in an NHS hospital?
Short answer – yes! Your independent midwife can provide your antenatal care at home during pregnancy and attend any hospital appointments you may have. We can provide non-clinical support and advocacy during labour in hospital or for elective caesareans and then we can provide your ongoing postnatal care at home when you have been discharged from hospital.
Is an independent midwife worth it?
Only you can decide if it is worth it, but here are some of the reasons we believe hiring an independent midwife is an investment you won't regret. All your midwifery appointments will happen at your home, at a time that suits you and your family (weekdays, weekends, daytime, evenings), our appointments are unhurried (because we don’t have 20 other women to see in an antenatal clinic) – so we can spend as little or as long with you as you need – compared to the standard 20 minute NHS appointment times. We really get to know you because we spend so much time together! This is so useful because we know what you want for your birth, what makes you tick and we learn how best we can support you as the individual you are. We guarantee you access to home birth – home birth services in Kent are limited due to general maternity staff shortages, but we can guarantee you access to home birth and that there’ll be two midwives present at your birth. We are available via WhatsApp throughout your pregnancy and into the postnatal period for any of those little questions you need answering on the spot. We are on-call 24/7 from when you are 37 weeks pregnant – ready to head to your home when you call us in labour. We have over 20 years combined experience working in busy London teaching hospitals and on ‘low risk’ birth centres and this experience has made us extremely skilled midwives. Having the same midwife throughout your pregnancy and birth journey is also proven by research to improve outcomes. Babies are only born once, so do we think hiring an independent midwife is worth it? Absolutely – your birth experience matters!
Can I pay for the care in instalments?
Yes. We offer instalment plans and are very happy to discuss the options with you to find something that works for everyone. We ask that payment has been made in full by the time you are 37 weeks pregnant and we start our on-call commitment, however we understand this may be difficult for some people and are happy to discuss this further.
What happens if there's an emergency at a home birth?
In the rare event that an emergency does occur at a home birth, we are both trained to respond to emergencies that affect both the woman/birthing person and the baby. We carry emergency equipment and medications with us. In the event that we need to transfer to hospital, we would call an ambulance and liaise with your local maternity unit. We would accompany you to hospital and stay with you for as long as you needed or wanted.