Independent midwives are vital to the support of new mums. I had my children under national health (because I didn't know independent midwives existed!) Had I known, I would have jumped at the chance to have someone dedicated to me, instead of the poor, half hearted service I received from my hospital.

(Mum) 

Midwifery has been fundamental to all cultures and societies throughout all time. To consider it otherwise is to presume that we could do without air, water or food. That we are even having a discussion as to whether Independent Midwifery should be allowed is an indication of the fearful state our current society is in. Perhaps the word Independent alone has a challenging connotation to society, considering that conformity is the norm.

Birth is (if allowed to be) a normal, natural and healthy experience for a whole family to have. Birth actually represents a 4 fold experience of being born; the birth of a child, a mother, a father and a family. Let us recognise this and support it fully for all of these important and significant human elements.

(co-founder of Fathers-To-Be, father of the first waterbirth in the USA(1980) and author of the Fathers-To-Be Handbook)

I am interested in the future of Independent midwifery as i believe that women should have a choice in the type of care that they receive. I recently spent time with an independent midwife who showed me that it was about holistic care and being there to support the woman through her pregnancy,birth and to be able to give support after, not only to the woman but also her family.

I was also surprised and pleased to learn the different reasons why women choose to have an independent midwife, with the main reason seeming to be that they wanted continuity and to feel supported. It reminded me what midwifery is about ? To loose our Independent midwives would be a great loss. (student midwife)

I found out I was pregnant with my first baby on 24 December 2006. I immediately decided that I wanted a home birth and after researching the possibilities and learning that first time mothers are very often discouraged from having a home birth by the NHS (my GP actually told me it wasn't possible), I started looking into using the services of an independent midwife. Unfortunately I had a misscarriage at 9 weeks, but I decided that I will keep saving money so that I can comfortably pay for the services of an independent midwife the next time I fall pregnant.

I have now saved up enough money and a bit more, but today learnt about the government's plans to force independent midwifes to have PII. I feel very strongly about this issue and feel that women should have a right to choose where their child is born and in which manner. I want to be able to give birth naturally in the comfort of my own home and in my own time without feeling like I'm being rushed through a factory and without any kind of intervention. I want to be able to have the support of the same midwife from the moment I find out I am pregnant until a month after my baby is born. I am very willing to pay even three times the fee that independent midwifes charge to be able to achieve this.

I sincerely hope you campaign is successful. (future mother)

The birth of my second child was made a wonderful, natural and safe experience by my independent midwife. Booking her ensured that I knew the person who would attend my birth and felt confident that she understood, and shared, my wishes for the birth. The birth of my first child was a traumatic hospital emergency c-section and I really needed to feel safe in order to give my second child the birth I felt he deserved.

Without my lovely midwife, this would not have been possible. Unfortunatly, the NHS cannot guarantee that a midwife will be available for a home birth and you are very unlikely to have met the midwife before. In my opinion, it is essential to protect the skills and experience of independent midwives and the choice for pregnant women to have the birth they want. (woman who experienced a beautiful homebirth)