Please confirm whether your staff are trained to resuscitate babies (according to the resuscitation council (UK) guidelines) and whether parents are aware of the potential risks associated with non hospital births (so they can make a truly informed choice). (Anonymous)

Answer:

All midwives in the UK are obliged to update regularly and provide evidence of this to their named supervisor. Neonatal resuscitation features high on the list of requirements and of course this follows the guidelines of the UK Resuscitation Council. We are all looking forward to a very comprehensive two day updating geared towards the needs of independent midwives who usually practice in the home environment at the end of May 2007.

When will we start to inform prospective parents of the risks of hospital birth?

Speaking for myself and many of my independent colleagues I discuss the risks of either setting with prospective clients.

Elke Heckel

Independent Midwife on behalf of the IMA 

Feel it is essential to support independent midwives so they can continue work.(NHS community midwife specialising in homebirth)

Will be writing appropriate letter regarding Independent Midwives soon – what would the NHS do without you all, we are under enough pressure as it is, without taking away further choice and services away from women.  I think you are all doing a brilliant and worthwhile job and I will support you all the way.  – NHS Midwife

My IM Sally enabled me to have the most positive HBAC and I can honestly say it was the best experience of my life!

The work of an independent midwife should not be underestimated.  In my opinion the NHS maternity services are in crisis and you only need to listen to the news for evidence of this.  They are unable to offer informed choice as the needs of the organisation often override the needs of the women. Evidence is overwhelming in its message that one continuous care giver improves outcomes for mothers and babies and employing an independent midwife is the only way to ensure continuity.  I have personal experience of this. ….. I gave birth at home to my second son on a red hot summers day last June.  I find it hard to put into words how different the experience was.  I didn’t have any pain relief or drugs of any description.  My pain relief was being in comfortable surroundings with people I knew and trusted – my husband and midwife. 

I chose an NHS birth for my first daughter, at a birth centre, which is  now closed. The options for my second daughter’s birth (now 7 weeks old) were therefore limited as the nearest midwife-led birth centre was at least 30 minutes drive away.  I opted for a home birth with an Independent Midwife; after looking at the care offered for a home birth under the NHS in comparison, I felt I had no choice.

I can't understand why the Govt  keep trying to eradicate independent midwifery. There is clearly a demand for your services which the NHS is never going to meet. You can't blame women for not wanting to come into hospital, the service is under so much pressure it's at breaking point. Certainly the midwives within the service are at breaking point. I will certainly support your efforts

I would love to be on the circulation list for updates on this unfolding horror story.  I had an independent midwife present for the birth of my second child at home ... it was blissful and empowering and everything the hospital birth of my daughter wasn't.

What is going on is appalling and women need to be able to birth at home with an independent
midwife of their choice.

Independent midwives should be able to work along side the NHS if mother needs a hospital.

A misguided piece of legislation which will decimate a small number of dedicated professional midwives who offer exemplary care is not a logical or humane way to proceed.  – NHS Midwife and midwifery lecturer

I benefitted from the care of an IM when my partner and I had our
second child at home.  I cannot imagine IMs not being available to support
home birth and to offer an alternative to the NHS when they cannot or
choose
not to support women.

This is appalling. Although I did not use an independent midwife for my own home birth (I was one of the lucky few whose NHS midwife was very supportive) I appreciate that there is a huge need for Independent Midwives throughout the country.
 

Thank you so much for your mail. I am shocked and worried about this and
will do as much as I can to help you.
I had a fantastic birth at home and
hate the thought that this might not be possible to other women, or even
my daughter later on!

I'd be delighted to add my name to this, we certainly wouldn't have had the birth experience we had without you!

It makes me so angry!

this is terrible news.

This is shocking news - how shortsighted and unfair to not let women have freedom of choice.I will definitely be supporting the plea

I'm quite
outraged about this

I have been a midwife for 25 years but I wouldn't have lasted more than 5 years if I hadn't been able to work independently from 1987 to 2001, as it was the only way to work in an evidence-based, woman-centred way for most of this period (I went to work as a Sure Start midwife in 2001).

Independent midwifery has been vital in the rebuilding of the midwifery skill-base, in offering women and midwives choice, and in restoring the relational aspect of the family-midwife encounter. I had an independent midwife for the birth of my own daughter and would not have had a normal birth outcome if I hadn't (thanks to Linda McLean).

I am now working temporarily as a hospital midwife and, although I work in a very good midwife-led unit, it is still the case that autonomy, choice and evidence-based practice is constrained within the NHS to the disadvantage of women, babies and midwives. (ex Independent Midwife)

When I became pregnant in 2004 I was very clear that I wanted a home birth because I believed it would give me the greatest possible chance of having a natural birth. Unfortunately my local NHS Trust had suspended their home birth service at the time so we had no option but to go to independent midwife. I am so glad that we did.

My independent midwife (Susan Stephenson) provided exactly the sort of one-to-one care I wanted during pregnancy, she supported me through a wonderful home birth in a birthing pool and provided exceptional support during a difficult few weeks after the birth caused by my low milk supply and son's consequent weight loss. My son is now a gorgeous, healthy two and a half year old who is still breastfeeding.

I am appalled that the Government is considering killing off independent midwifery in this way when it really does provide the gold standard in midwifery care that the NHS should be working towards.

I will be writing to my MP and the Patricia Hewitt the Health Secretary and urge everyone who cares about women's maternity care to do the same. (ex-client)