Pay For An Independent Midwife Or Not?

DrFluffy

eleanor_bluefish wrote: »

Dear Dr Fluffy, I'm very curious to know where you learned that there is a massive increased risk of complications after 3 births? This is factually incorrect and not research based at all. I do hope you won't be advising future clients of this?

Hmm - it's what every obs and gob doc and midwife has told us since starting clinicals...

polarbearprecious

I had an IM for my last baby (no5 or 6 depending on whether you count the miscarriage before her). I had had 4 previous caesareans with a higher chance of another one, which I did not want. I knew that I could not predict the outcome, how this baby was born, no-one can, but I also knew that I wanted my last pregancy (which it is, there will be no more babies) to be one that I could enjoy. In view of my history and my links with the NHS, I also knew that the pregnancy would be marred by the constant negativity and pressure to confirm that I had come up against in the past. So employing an IM would give me the care and consideration that I needed. And I certainly had that, I was cared for, loved and cherished and made to feel that I was doing the most important job in the world - nurturing and growing this baby. As it was, my planned homebirth went ahead and I successfully gave birth to my second daughter in our front room - for me the birth I'd hoped for but didn't dare expect. Without a doubt, I would not have achieved this within the NHS. The money that it cost - and I worked my socks off to save it - was worth every penny for the level of care which I received. If you know that this is the sort of thing that you are after, along with the support to make the choices in pregnancy and birth that are right for you, then I'd say go for it. Hope this helps a bit

theoldwomanwholivedinasho

DrFluffy wrote: »

Hmm - it's what every obs and gob doc and midwife has told us since starting clinicals...

Dr Fluffy, I would have thought that you would be learning better research skills than that. Please tell me medicine isn't being taught by the 'sit with Nellie' method. It would explain how these old wives tales are perpetuated until they become consultant wisdom... Next time you hear such pearls, do yourself a favour and ask them for the references. Do it sweetly, need to know more, and ask where to find the evidence... Remember that following orders is not really a defence for malpractice:-)

Ever wondered how a species so defective that only 10% can give birth unaided made it to the 21st Century? Guess that our potential for giving birth safely is a lot greater than we are credited with!!!

Too many cooks spoil the broth... Leave labour alone!

eleanor_bluefish

DrFluffy wrote: »

Hmm - it's what every obs and gob doc and midwife has told us since starting clinicals...

Well I hope Dr Fluffy that you don't accept everything you are told as truth? hopefully you will be doing your own research into this? Start with the National Birthday Trust Study 1994 and Majrie trew's safer Childbirth? You might also like to have a look at https://www.homebirth.org.uk/ for some good research based articles.

DrFluffy

theoldwomanwholivedinasho wrote: »

Dr Fluffy, I would have thought that you would be learning better research skills than that. Please tell me medicine isn't being taught by the 'sit with Nellie' method. It would explain how these old wives tales are perpetuated until they become consultant wisdom... Next time you hear such pearls, do yourself a favour and ask them for the references. Do it sweetly, need to know more, and ask where to find the evidence... Remember that following orders is not really a defence for malpractice:-)

Ever wondered how a species so defective that only 10% can give birth unaided made it to the 21st Century? Guess that our potential for giving birth safely is a lot greater than we are credited with!!!

Too many cooks spoil the broth... Leave labour alone!

The one person who keeps telling us that is our lead teaching midwife, so will chastise her/tell here 1001 internet midwives and mums completely disagree...

To be fair, I have no desire to go into OBs and OGs, peads or in being a GP. In the fields I want to do, if a patient was pregnant they would be in a rip rawing complicated pregnancy category anyway, so I now a lot more about pregnacy care in this field (medical oncology or palliative care).

You bring the issue of the number of people who have an uninterventionalist birth in to the equation. While we may have a low fecundity rate as a species, we also have the best survival rates (both maternal and neonatal), that is even including developing world stats. You only have to read the "What Mothers Die Of" reports to see that intervention has its benefits.

As I said - I have no idea what I think about the medicalisation of childbirth, I'll reserve that right until I've actually been through it myself. What I do wholeheartedly believe in though, is hte mothers choice to CHOOSE. Be it whatever, even if it goes against what I personally believe. What really (and I mean REALLY) !!!!es me off is when women get a lot of flack for opting for the medicalised model (just as much as if they had opted for a home birth).

Hmmm - I guess that's a point. If birth needs no help whatso ever, shy do we even train midwives? According to you, we could do fine without any...

DrFluffy

eleanor_bluefish wrote: »

Well I hope Dr Fluffy that you don't accept everything you are told as truth? hopefully you will be doing your own research into this? Start with the National Birthday Trust Study 1994 and Majrie trew's safer Childbirth? You might also like to have a look at www.homebirth.org.uk/ for some good research based articles.

Thanks - will read that. What professional body is the site accredited by, or is it a one woman/man army.

VeryStressedMummy

DrFluffy wrote: »

The one person who keeps telling us that is our lead teaching midwife, so will chastise her/tell here 1001 internet midwives and mums completely disagree...

As I said - I have no idea what I think about the medicalisation of childbirth, I'll reserve that right until I've actually been through it myself. What I do wholeheartedly believe in though, is hte mothers choice to CHOOSE. Be it whatever, even if it goes against what I personally believe. What really (and I mean REALLY) !!!!es me off is when women get a lot of flack for opting for the medicalised model (just as much as if they had opted for a home birth).
QUOTE]

The sad thing is that many women going down the medicalised route don't actually make an informed choice. I wanted to book a homebirth during my first pregnancy and cam against a lot of obstruction. I didn't at that point have all the contacts and resources that I now have (I had to find those after I was pushed down a highly medicalised intervention route on the off chance that there might be a problem - and there wasn't - and ended up with a caesarean). During my second pregnancy I really wanted to book a homebirth, as the outcomes for homebirth after caesarean are much better than for hospital. Although the risk of uterine rupture was minimal my community midwife was scaremongering so much about it that I knew there was little chance of a natural birth with her. I couldn't afford an Independent Midwife at the time so made an informed choice for a hospital birth, choosing a hospital out of my area as the local hospital is appallingly protocol-driven.

Even though I've now 'proved' that I can give birth naturally, if I have another baby I will do all I can to secure the services of an independent midwife. The health and happiness of my family is worth the money - the operation, the post-natal ward in hospital and the way I felt (physically and emotionally) after the caesarean are not something I want to go through again.

Mum_of_many_4

Oooh see you have all been having fun without me :rotfl: Seriously though, there have been some great points mentioned. I personally do not think I am at risk of greater complications just because I have had 5 other children. In fact I would say its the opposite as all my other deliveries have been short and uncomplicated, my only problem is 2 premature deliveries which only came about as a consultant decided he didnt want the pregnancy to carry on any longer (there was no evidence of infection and baby was happy) I did not at the time have the knowledge I do now to make an informed choice.
I am terribly sorry for those of you that have suffered at the hands of the NHS, it is my own bad experiences that have prompted this and I am sure it was nothing compared to what you have been through.
So just to update you all I have rung some other independent midwives in the area to compare prices and £3000 is lower than some of the others, also of the midwives I spoke to none of them have an honorary contract to work in the hospital. The original midwife I spoke to, I have emailed to ask if she has an honorary contract, if she does then I do believe we will be using her services, especially as this week we have had some good fortune and now have the money to pay outright :j

Valerieg_3

Have read this thread with interest as I am an Independent Midwife.

The reasons clients book with me are many and varied, however I provide 1:1 care with myself, a midwife that my client (and her family) have had an opportunity to build a relationship.

Birth with a known midwife has been proven to:

* increase the likelihood of a normal birth
* reduce the likelihood of caesarean or forceps
* shorten labour
* decrease the need for drugs
* improve breastfeeding rates
* improve maternal satisfaction
* decrease postnatal depression.

Midwives are the expert in normal birth - I have to disagree with Dr Fluffy (medical student) that inducing brain damage is not easy - birth is a normal event and in most cases will result in a happy mother and baby. Midwives are trained to detect any deviation from normal and act appropriately - many of us believe that unnecessary intervention causes problems! I also disagree that the risk of complications increases massively after three births - where is the evidence for that? Visit my website for testimonials https://www.3shiresmidwife.co.uk

Most Independent Midwives left the NHS after a lot of soul searching, but left through frustration at not being able to give the style and quality of care that women deserve. We continue to campaign hard for all women to receive proper 1:1 care throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

Moving on to the issue that was raised on Woman's Hour.

Midwives have been practising as Independent Midwives since time began. The Government has now written to us all to say that we will no longer be allowed to work without indemnity insurance after April 2008, this is despite being fully aware that we can not buy indemnity insurance! We all agree that the situation is not ideal. We discuss this issue fully with clients before booking. We also run the risk of personal loss should we be found negligent. We have also been campaigning long and hard to get the issue resolved.

The Independent Midwives Association has launched a campaign website, https://www.saveindependentmidwifery.org - please visit the website, sign our petition and write letters of support - please help us to save this "gold standard" midwifery care.

Best wishes
Valerie

Mum_of_many_4

Thanks Valerie
I have spoken with my midwife again and although she doesnt have an honorary contract with the hospital, I do believe she will be able to help me achieve the birth I so desperately want, even if thats just supporting me in my choices during a hospital birth. Wish me luck everyone.