Independent Midwives are Nursing & Midwifery Council registered midwives who have opted to practise outside the National Health Service. They have undergone the same level of midwifery education and training as their NHS colleagues and are regulated and bound by the Midwife’s Rules. They charge a fee which reflects the professional service they are providing. Currently Independent Midwives practise without a professional indemnity insurance as there is none available globally.

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Practice

INDEPENDENT MIDWIFERY PACKAGE


I work in the Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey areas. As your midwife, I will provide all your care in your home. I provide all antenatal care visits where the well being of both mother and baby is discussed and assessed. The visits, which are approximately an hour long, will enable us to explore issues surrounding pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent. If you so wish, appropriate pregnancy screenings can be arranged through the NHS or private practice.

Once you engage my midwifery services, I will be on call for you 24 hours a day. My close liaison with other local Independent Midwives ensures the availability of another midwife should the need arises.

I will attend to you when you go into labour. Alongside carrying out my clinical role as a midwife, I am also there for emotional support and continuity of care.

Postnatally, I will be visiting you until the 28th day. The frequency of visits will be individualised to the needs of each woman but often, visits will be daily for the 1st week. These visits will give you the opportunity to revisit any issues surrounding your care as well as promoting a healthy transition into motherhood.

My independent practice enables me to develop a close relationship based on trust and honesty with my clients. An open and non-judgemental approach to midwifery care is essential for a positive birthing experience.

In accordance with my midwifery ethos, my practice is non-interventionist and woman-led. Nevertheless, if clinical concerns arise during your pregnancy, I will advise you appropriately about the choices available to you. However, the decisions are yours to make and to be responsible of. My role is as your advocate.

I liaise closely with other local Independent Midwives as this enables us to inform and update our practice, alongside maintaining an excellent support network for all practitioners.

I am registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), which is the national governing body for all nurses, midwives and health visitors. I am legally bound to the Midwife’s Rules and Code of Practice. I also receive regular professional support from a named Supervisor of Midwives whom I meet with annually. The safety of my equipment and need for clinical updates are reviewed at the meeting.

I am also a member of the Independent Midwives Association (IMA), the Association of Radical Midwives (ARM), Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services (AIMS) and La Leche League UK.

If you wish to explore your options further, I can offer a one hour consultation in the comfort of your own home. There is a £75 fee for the consultation which will be deducted from the total midwifery care fee of £2950, should you decide to engage my services (regardless of at which stage of pregnancy you book me).

POST NATAL CARE PACKAGE

In addition to my full independent midwifery care package, I also offer a Post Natal Care Package on its own. more and more women -especially first time mothers are finding that they are not receiving enough post natal support following the birth of their baby in the NHS care system. Many do not get the breastfeeding support they need and often visits are rushed and limited in number, What I offer is 10 unhurried post natal visits (days 1,2,3,4,5,6,10,14,21 and 28) where we can address your post natal needs. If you wish, I can also perform the baby’s heel prick test. I am also very keen to assist new mothers with breastfeeding and the majority of my clients continue to breastfeed beyond the first 6 months following birth. It is advisable that you contact me prior to the birth of your baby if you would like to engage me for this service.

The fee for this package is £1000 and there is a £50 consultation fee, deductible from the final amount when you engage my services.

BIRTH ADVOCACY

Having a hospital birth? Have you considered the benefits of having an impartial, supportive birth advocate with you when you are having your baby in hospital? I have years of experience in supporting women achieve normal births, waterbirths and homebirths. I can offer your my professional support as a birth advocate in hospital. My role will be non-clinical and I will provide emotional support for you and your partner throughout labour and birth.

The fee for being on call for when you go into labour and accompanying you in hospital is £1000. I offer a consultation where we can meet to discuss your needs. Prior to your due date, you will have three visits from where we can discuss your birth plans and needs. I will be offering two non-clinical post natal visits where we can go over any aspect of your labour and birth, and also facilitate debriefing if required.

Ideally, booking for the Birth Advocacy service should take place between the 26-32 weeks of pregnancy and I will be on call for you from 36 - 42 weeks.

If you wish to discuss any aspect of your maternity care needs, please feel free to contact me.

Phone: 01730 816579
Mobile: 07891 094571
e-Mail: aida@lotuswithin.co.uk