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Home arrow Women's Voices
Catherine's Comment Print
My first child was born at home with NHS community midwives. At the time we were just happy that we had managed to achieve a drug-free, first time home birth under the NHS - with relatively little opposition. It is only with hindsight however that we realised how managed the labour was - despite being at home. To give you an example - the syntometrine was plunged into my thigh with the words "It is procedure" before I could object. It has left a sour taste to say the least.

We were unaware of independent midwives the first time round. When i became pregnant again, I knew that it was the right way to go. Continuity of care, more holistic approach to childbirth, support of home births etc etc. The cost was not an issue (what else are credit cards for?!) because we knew that every penny would be well spent.

And it has been. Absolutley. I would never again trust my wellbeing and that of my baby to a system that is as beholden to budgets, mired in bureaucracy and woefully misguided as the one we have in the NHS today.

Women must be allowed to choose how they birth their babies. Independent midwives really do offer the gold standard in care. To allow them to discontinue practise would be criminal. Women will suffer as a result. Highly skilled women will lose their livelihoods. But maybe most importantly, valuable skills and knowledge about a women\'s ability to birth her baby naturally without interference will be lost.

Which would be a tragedy all round. It must not be allowed to happen. (mother/ex-journalist)
 
Erica's Comment Print
Please keep me informed of ways to save independent midwives. I hired an independent midwife for the birth of my son (August 27th) and she was worth every pence! (client)
 
Emma's Comment Print

My first child was born in an NHS maternity hospital. Whilst my experience of ante-natal care, labour and birth were physically fine, there was no consideration given to me as a person. This was not helped by the total lack of continuity in care - I saw 14 different people for ante-natal appointments, only once seeing the same midwife twice, and then five different midwives looked after me during my hospital labour despite the fact that it lasted only 3 and a half hours. I found the impersonality, the perfunctory nature of care and my own lack of control very hard to deal with. I still get feelings of distress and panic when I think of my daughter's birth - whilst I am, of course, grateful that we both came through it physically OK, it was not the wonderful, fulfilling experience which we are socially conditioned to expect of birth.


We are now planning another baby and if we do, I am desperate to use an independent midwife in order to have someone who I can get to know and who will have the time to give me more chance of a positive birth experience next time and hopefully, wipe out some of the bad memories from first time around.

Please please don't take this option away from me. (mother)
 
Laurie's Comment Print
We must do what we can to save women's autonomy regarding birth. Choice in childbirth is a basic human right. (wanna be Independent Midwife)
 
Cathy's Comment Print
HI , I THINK THAT WHAT YOU INDEPENDENT MIDWIFES DO IS SO GOOD. I HAVE HAD TWO SONS OF MY OWN, WHEN I MET MY MIDWIFE I DID NOT GET TO KNOW HER. WITH WHAT YOU DO WE HAVE THAT CHOICE ALL THE WAY FOR NINE MONTHS AND AFTER, GETTING TO KNOW YOUR MIDWIFE, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING. (Supporter)
 
Carolyn's Comment Print
As a woman who has not yet had children, but who will certainly want the assistance and support of an independent midwife when she does get pregnant, I'm increasingly worried and shocked at the government's lack of foresight and frank dismissal of women's needs and choices. Will this proposal be coupled with a shake-up in the NHS, finally providing the level of service and care that, at present, only independent midwives are able to give? I doubt it, and as a result, women are going to lose out, in a big way. I hope that when I find myself ready to get pregnant and give birth in the next few years, when the services of an independent midwife will still be available to me. (prospective client)
 
Hannah's Comment Print
This may be naive but have you looked into unionizing? I'm doing a research project for university and looked into Norway and New Zealand; both have functioning Midwifery Unions. Blessings to all of you UK midwives so far away from me in Oregon, USA. (future midwife)
 
Jean's Comment Print
It is so important that independent midwifery survives. You are the yeast that gives the bread of midwifery life and lightness. There are hard times for midwives at the moment, and there is the need for the inspiration that comes from your continuing to stand by women and midwifery. (retired midwife)
 
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