I employed an IM with for my first pregnancy as I knew first hand ( my husband was an anaesthetist at the local hospital) that there were too few midwives avaliable. Frequently there was one midwife looking after 2-3 labouring women. I also wanted to feel as if I had a choice. I don't know that I would have had children if I couldn't use an IM because I would have been too scared.

My first birth was quite horrific. My NHS midwife left to attend another lady and only returned after the baby had been delivered by emergency caesarean, her heart had stopped. Not a day goes by that I don't give thanks for my clever little girl and think how different it could have been because it was my independent midwife who spotted the problem. Who was there to help me come to terms with the fact that my birth was not as I would have hoped? Who taught me to breastfeed? Who stuck up for me when the doctors wanted to induce me? My IM.

When I speak to my friends who have not had the support that I had I feel very sad but also lucky to have had 2 such positive experiences. Thank you Betty and all others like you out there. (ex-client)